Riversleigh section of Australian fossil mammal sites
Key Messages
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World Heritage sites are places that have Outstanding Universal Value that transcend the significance they hold for a particular nation.
These qualities are expressed in the convention concerning the protection of the world’s cultural and natural heritage. The World Heritage Convention aims to promote cooperation among nations to protect heritage around the world that is of such Outstanding Universal Value that its conservation is important for current and future generations.
It is important to ensure that all World Heritage areas, regardless of their Outstanding Universal Value, acknowledge First Nations peoples’ ongoing connection to Country.
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The Riversleigh section of the Australian Fossil Mammal Sites is one of the most significant fossil deposits in the world, and the richest known mammal deposit in Australia. The remains of unique Australian prehistoric animals from the last 25 million years have been superbly preserved here in the limestone outcrops.
In 1994 the area's outstanding universal value was recognised internationally when Riversleigh, along with Naracoorte in South Australia, was inscribed on the World Heritage List.
Riversleigh section of Australian fossil mammal sites
State
- Australian Fossil Mammal Sites - Riversleigh section - World Heritage natural criteria
The Riversleigh section of the Australian Fossil Mammal Sites lies within the Country of the Waanyi people. It is one of the most significant fossil deposits in the world, the richest known fossil mammal deposit in Australia, and currently meets two World Heritage criteria:
- Outstanding examples representing major stages of Earth's history
- Outstanding examples representing significant ongoing ecological and biological processes.
- Australian Fossil Mammal Sites - Riversleigh section - World Heritage integrity
The conservation outlook remains good. While there are a number of threats that affect the site, they are minor and do not impact on its Outstanding Universal Value.
Pressure
- Illegal removal of fossils at the Australian Fossil Mammal Sites - Riversleigh section
Threats such as site damage and fossil theft are considered low due to Riversleigh's public access, remoteness, and relatively low visitor numbers.
- Climate change and the Australian Fossil Mammal Sites - Riversleigh section - World Heritage
Threats to the Riversleigh section of the Australian Fossil Mammal Sites include possible fossil displacement from large-scale flooding. The impacts of flooding in 2023 will be monitored through fossil health check monitoring. The impact of climate change on this World Heritage site is considered very low.
- Research activities at the Australian Fossil Mammal Sites - Riversleigh section
Permitted excavation and removal of fossil material for analysis is undertaken sustainably and poses a low threat to Riversleigh’s World Heritage Outstanding Universal Value and its natural global significance for present and future generations.
- Altered fire regimes at the Australian Fossil Mammal Sites - Riversleigh section
Fires do not significantly threaten Riversleigh’s World Heritage Outstanding Universal Value, because its fossils are encased in hard limestone deposits.