Queensland Summary of the Values

The summary of values is outlined in the K'gari (Fraser Island) Conservation Outlook Assessment from 2014, 2017 and 2020. Reporting of Outlook Assessment has changed from every three years to every five years and the next report is due in 2025.

Since K’gari became a World Heritage site in 1992, the state of its values remain in relatively good condition and significant human and financial resources are being directed to the management of the threats to these values.

World Heritage Natural Criteria

vii) Superlative natural phenomena

K’gari is sufficiently large, diverse and free from disturbance to contain all ecosystem components required for viable populations of all species and for continued maintenance of all natural phenomena, e.g. the development of soil profiles and dune systems remains fundamentally undisturbed.

viii) Significant ongoing geological processes

There is no significant immediate human threat to the coastal processes, such as longshore drift and the other ongoing ecological processes that make this area outstanding.

ix) Significant ongoing biological processes

Disjunct distribution (range fragmentation) and relict (restricted taxon) flora and fauna populations, including those associated with the lakes and creeks, have mostly remained intact. They will continue to be vital for ongoing speciation (i.e. Speciation occurs when a group within a species separates from other members of its species and develops its own unique characteristics.). Since the last report, a number of permanent free water lakes have dried out and caused the localised removal of fish species from these lakes.

Other factors affecting integrity

Increased visitation, biosecurity concerns and impacts of climate change are the major threats to the property. Increased tourism is acting as a driver for a number of other threats, which include pollution, erosion and siltation, disturbance, and the introduction of invasive species.

Climate change seems to be irreversibly changing some of the physical properties of the site and has already been demonstrated as a threat to several site values. These threats are likely to gain in importance in the future, with increases in risks such as localised species loss, sea level rise, loss of habitat, increased dune erosion, increased number of droughts and dramatic climate rainfall/storm events and wildfires and impacts to biosecurity.

Results