The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, previously called the Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves, are a World Heritage Site. This site includes 41 rainforest reserves covering about 370,000 hectares (910,000 acres) in north-east New South Wales and south-east Queensland. It was added to the World Heritage List in 1986 and expanded in 1994. The Gondwana Rainforests are also listed on the Australian National Heritage List and the New South Wales Heritage Register.
These rainforests are home to many plant and animal species, some of which are found only in this area. These species have origins that go back to before Australia separated from the ancient landmass called Gondwana. Examples include early types of ferns, conifers, and flowering plants. The reserves are among the last remaining rainforests that once covered most of Australia when it split from Gondwana. The Gondwana Rainforests are the most important subtropical rainforests in the world and include nearly all of the world’s Antarctic Beech cool temperate rainforests.
History
Australia separated from the landmass Gondwana about 40 million years ago. At that time, most of the continent was covered in rainforests. These rainforests decreased in size as the continent moved north. By 1788, only 1% of Australia was covered by rainforests. Aboriginal Australians used these rainforests for many purposes, including ceremonies, food, shelter, and as a place to avoid European settlement. After European colonisation, logging damaged most of the remaining rainforests, destroying 75% of the rainforests that existed in 1788.
In 1986, the Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves (Australia) were added to the World Heritage List during the tenth session of the World Heritage Committee. The site met criteria 8 (showing important geological processes), criteria 9 (showing important ecological and biological processes), and criteria 10 (containing important natural habitats for conservation) for natural sites. In 1994, the borders of the World Heritage Site were expanded, increasing its total area by 35%. In 2007, the site’s name was changed to the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia. In 2010, Australia added a new area of the site to its Tentative List.
The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia were added to the Australian National Heritage List on 15 May 2007 and to the New South Wales Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. The site receives about 2 million visitors each year. Many of the rainforest reserves have visitor facilities and walking trails. The Gondwana Rainforests are mainly managed by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Features and conservation
The Gondwana Rainforests are home to over 200 rare and endangered species and provide a habitat for large groups of marsupials, birds, snakes, and frogs. In this area, about 45 frog species, 110 reptile species, and 270 bird species have been found. Plants that are important for conservation in the Gondwana Rainforests include species such as Cryptocarya, Tasmannia, and Endiandra. The site also contains the remains of two extinct volcanoes: the Tweed Shield Volcano, which is considered one of the world's best-preserved erosion calderas, and the Ebor Volcano.
The Gondwana Rainforests were badly damaged during the 2019–2020 Australian bushfires, which affected about half of the area. Species such as the parma wallaby, Hastings River mouse, rufous scrubbird, and nightcap oak were among those most affected by the fires. Ongoing threats to the Gondwana Rainforests include invasive plants like myrtle rust and bitou bush, diseases, and climate change.