Queensland Summary

The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area (Gondwana Rainforests) areas are naturally fragmented in sections due to the historic geology and geormorphology of the landscapes.  There are concerns about the small size of some parts of the property and large boundary ratio. However, noting that the serial sites are in reasonable proximity and are joined by corridors of semi-natural habitats and buffers, compensation for small size and scattered fragments is being made through intensive management consistent with approved management plans and policy.

Threat assessment

The assessment of threats is outlined in the Gondwana Rainforest of Australia Conservation Outlook Assessment from 2014, 2017 and 2020. Reporting of Outlook Assessment has changed from every 3 years to every 5 years and the next report is due in 2025.

The Queensland section

The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia is a serial property comprising eight separate groups of reserves, containing 41 parts spanning Queensland and New South Wales.

The Queensland section of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia is predominantly within five national parks:

• Springbrook
• Lamington
• Mount Barney
• Mt Chinghee
• Main Range.

The Gondwana Rainforests contain the major remaining areas of rainforest in north-east New South Wales and south-east Queensland and are disjunct in places due mainly to the naturally fragmented distribution of rainforest in this part of Australia. Some of the reserves are very small, but almost all have some connectivity to neighbouring protected areas, often with the same or very similar values. The area to boundary ratio of fragmented reserves increases exposure to threats such as weed and pathogen invasion, changes in the microclimate of otherwise intact rainforest, and potentially has negative impacts on natural biological processes (including altitudinal and latitudinal migration in response to climate change) (IUCN Consultation, 2017).

Overall, the site’s large reserve combined with the high level of legislative protection and intensive property management will minimise threats and secure its Outstanding Universal Value.

Extending the Gondwana Rainforests

A proposed extension of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage property is on the World Heritage Tentative List. A total of 689,364 hectares is proposed for addition, including:

• areas previously recommended by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature to be a part of the Gondwana Rainforests (268,678ha, including 18,185ha in Queensland)
• areas bordering an existing part of the Gondwana Rainforests (114,429ha, including 9,180ha in Queensland)
• additional areas (306,257ha, including 202,258ha in Queensland).

Several reserves in the proposed additions would improve connectivity or management access within the remnant rainforest. At this stage, the extension proposal has not progressed, prioritising management and protection of the existing property.

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