World Heritage Listing

The Greater Blue Mountains was announced as Australia’s 14^th World Heritage Area on 29 November 2000.

What does it mean to be World Heritage Listed?

“World Heritage is the designation for places on earth that are of outstanding universal value to humanity and as such, have been inscribed on the World Heritage List to be protected for future generations to appreciate and enjoy. Places as diverse and unique as the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Galapagos Islands in Ecuador, the Taj Mahal in India, the Grand Canyon in the USA, or the Acropolis in Greece are examples of the 890 natural and cultural places inscribed on the World Heritage List to date.”

Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre

Features of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area:

Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners

Six Aboriginal language groups are the traditional owners of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area:

Darug
Gundungurra
Wanaruah
Wiradjuri
Darkinjung
Tharawal Nations

World Heritage Overview

Essential ecosystem services
Biodiversity
Cultural significance
Wide and balanced representation of eucalypts habitats

8 National Parks

The largest integrated system of protected areas in New South Wales:

Blue Mountains
Wollemi
Kanangra-Boyd
Nattai
Yengo
Gardens of Stone
Thirlmere Lakes
Jenolan Caves Karst Reserve

Habitats:

Wet and dry sclerophyll forest
Mallee heathlands
Localised swamps
Wetlands
Grassland

Biodiversity:

10% of the vascular flora
Large numbers of rare or threatened species (e.g. The Wollemi pine)
91 species of eucalypts
More than 400 animal species such as:
- Spotted-tailed quoll
- Koala
- Yellow-bellied glider
- Long-nosed potoroo
- Green and golden bell frog
- Blue Mountains water skink