Gondwana Rainforests

area of subtropical rainforest in Australia

The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, formerly the 'Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves', are the most extensive area of subtropical rainforest in the world.[1] It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[2]

Gondwana Rainforests of Australia
UNESCO World Heritage Site
LocationNew South Wales and Queensland, Australia
CriteriaNatural: (viii), (ix), (x)
Reference368bis
Inscription1986 (10th Session)
Extensions1994
Area370,000 ha (1,400 sq mi)
Coordinates28°15′S 150°3′E / 28.250°S 150.050°E / -28.250; 150.050
Gondwana Rainforests is located in Australia
Acacia Plateau Flora Reserve (NSW)
Amaroo Flora Reserve (NSW)
Barrington Tops
Barrington Tops
Border Ranges National Park
Captains Creek Flora Reserve (NSW)
Cunnawarra National Park
Dorrigo National Park
Emu Vale
Fenwicks Scrub Flora Reserve
Gibraltar Range National Park
Iluka Nature Reserve
Lamington National Park
Limpinwood Nature Reserve
Main Range National Park
Main Range National Park
Mallanganee National Park
Mebbin National Park
Mount Barney National Park
Mount Chinghee National Park
Mount Clunie National Park
Mount Hyland Nature Reserve
Mount Nothofagus National Park
Mount Royal National Park
Mount Seaview State Forest (NSW)
New England National Park
Nightcap National Park
Numinbah Nature Reserve
Oxley Wild Rivers National Park
Spicers Gap
Springbrook National Park
The Castles Flora Reserve (NSW)
Tooloom National Park
Toonumbar National Park
Washpool National Park
Werrikimbe National Park
Willi Willi National Park
Wilsons Peak Flora Reserve
Wollumbin National Park
From the Main Range in the north to the Barrington Tops in the south, various grouping of the Gondwana Rainforests on the Australian continent
Official nameGondwana Rainforests of Australia
TypeNational heritage (landscape)
Designated17 December 1994
Reference no.105135
ClassNatural
Legal StatusDeclared property
Official nameGondwana Rainforests of Australia; Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves; Gondwana Rainforests of Australia (new name from 2007); North East Rainforests World Heritage Area
TypeState heritage (landscape)
Designated2 April 1999
Reference no.1002
TypeWilderness
CategoryLandscape - Natural

The area includes 50 separate reserves covering 3,665 square kilometres (1,415 sq mi). It is around the New South WalesQueensland border.[3]

The Gondwana Rainforests are so-called because the fossil record indicates that when Gondwana existed it was covered by rainforests containing the same kinds of species that are living today. The number of visitors to the reserve is about two million per year.[1]

National parks

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The Queensland areas include the Main Range, at its most northern point; and extending south, the Lamington, Mount Chinghee, Springbrook and Mount Barney national parks.

The New South Wales areas include the Barrington Tops, at its most southern point; and extending north, the Dorrigo, Mount Warning, New England, Mebbin, Nightcap, Border Ranges, Oxley Wild Rivers, Washpool, Willi Willi and Werrikimbe national parks.[4]

The most heavily visited parts are Dorrigo National Park and the Natural Bridge section of Springbrook National Park.

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References

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  1. 1.0 1.1 "Gondwana Rainforests of Australia". Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
  2. UNESCO, "Gondwana Rainforests of Australia". Retrieved 2012-4-21. Archived 2009-11-26 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Reid, Greg (2004). Australia's National and Marine Parks: Queensland. South Yarra, Victoria: Macmillan Education Australia. p. 11. ISBN 978-0-7329-9053-4.
  4. "Gondwana Rainforests of Australia". World Heritage List. UNESCO. Archived from the original on 27 May 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2008.