As part of its work in identifying themes and sub-themes of outstanding universal value (Step A) and possible places that might best express them (Step B), the Expert Panel's discussion often touched on listed World Heritage Areas in Australia and the extent to which these might best express particular themes. Instances of where a listed World Heritage Area was regarded by the Panel as best expressing a particular theme, sub-theme, or aspects of these, are outlined in Table 19.
In a number of cases, the Panel believed that while a listed World Heritage Area best expressed particular aspects of the themes and sub-themes, other places need to be further investigated to determine whether they might best express other aspects. The Panel developed lists of these other places for Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland; the lists for these states are presented in Tables 16, 17 and 18 respectively.
Table 19 Listed World Heritage Areas in Australia which best express particular themes and sub-themes of outstanding universal value, or aspects of these.
Natural Values (Geology, Geomorphology, Flora, Fauna)
| Theme of outstanding universal value |
Sub-themes, Exemplars |
Explanatory Sentence | Listed World Heritage Areas which best express the themes, sub-themes, or aspects of these. |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Origin and development of biota and landforms as a result of Gondwanan plate tectonics and more recent stability and long isolation |
Fossils |
Fossil sites at Riversleigh and Naracoorte provide evidence of key stages in the evolution of the Australian biota. These are linked in a temporal sequence to other sites such as the Victorian brown coal deposits. |
Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Riversleigh, Naracoorte). |
|
Refugia, Relicts |
Australia has outstanding examples of relict biota reflecting ancient Gondwanan biota |
The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves. Wet Tropics of Queensland. Lord Howe Island Group. |
|
|
Rainforest |
Australian rainforests are an outstanding example of ecosystems from which modern biota are derived. These rainforests are exceptionally rich in primitive and relict species, many of which are similar to fossils from Gondwana. |
The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves. Wet Tropics of Queensland. Fraser Island. Lord Howe Island Group. |
|
|
Evolution of landforms, species and ecosystems under conditions of stress. |
Eucalyptus dominated vegetation |
Eucalyptus-dominated vegetation in Australia is an outstanding example on a continental scale of forest and woodland vegetation dominated by a single genus. This vegetation has evolved under stress, including conditions of high climatic variability, and/or nutrient deficiency, and/or high fire frequency. |
Kakadu National Park. The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. |
|
Alpine |
Australia has outstanding examples of globally unusual vegetation that has developed in response to maritime conditions and poor soils. |
The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. |
|
|
Climate change and its impacts |
Records of past climates |
Australia has outstanding and globally significant records of past climates, including those preserved in the sediments of a number of its lake systems |
Willandra Lakes Region. Fraser Island. |