Sunday, June 26, 2011

Ningaloo Reef achieves World Heritage listing

Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia has finally been successful in gaining World Heritage status. The Commonwealth Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities now has the esteemed position of having to administer this listing, as it does with all other World Heritage sites within Australian boundaries.

The new World Heritage area is to be known as the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage area and includes: Ningaloo Marine Park (Commonwealth and State waters), Cape Range National Park, Jurabi and Bundegi coastal parks, Muiron Islands and Murion Islands marine management area and Learmouth Air Weapons Range.

The justification or reasons for the nomination and eventual listing of this area are included on the Commonwealth government website but include aesthetic value, underwater scenery, annual aggregation of whale sharks, aggregations of fish and marine mammals, high marine biodiversity, high diversity of marine turtle species, rare and diverse range of subterranean (underground) creatures and diversity of dryland reptile and plant species.

Congratulations to all those who have pushed for this action. It has been a long-time coming, but well worth the wait! Pin It

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