Cape York Peninsula nominated for World Heritage tentative listing

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Parts of the Cape York Peninsula in far north Queensland have been elevated to the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list. The decision has been more than a decade in the making and aims to protect and increase global recognition of the vast area.

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00:00It's referred to as one of Australia's last great frontiers.

00:06The sprawling Cape York peninsula is known for its rugged national parks, pristine waterways,

00:13secluded beaches and rich indigenous cultures.

00:16Both levels of government have announced parts of the area will be placed on the UNESCO World

00:21Heritage Tentative List.

00:23This place is so special, it deserves global recognition.

00:28This is a process that we've been on for about 10 years now, I worked on this when

00:33I was the Environment Minister and it's very special to have reached this next milestone.

00:38The peninsula is home to nearly a fifth of Australia's plant species and indigenous rock

00:43art can be found across the region.

00:46Six national parks would be included in the listing.

00:49Traditional owners at the announcement are supportive, saying they hope it will generate

00:54more interest, bringing tourists and jobs.

00:58To me it's exciting and the younger ones, they start to get excited, that's the key

01:04to looking after land.

01:06It'll bring opportunity to manage our land and sea country.

01:13There are nearly 2,000 sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List, including the Galapagos

01:18Islands and Great Barrier Reef.

01:20The federal government has proposed six other sites for inclusion on the list, but nothing

01:25will happen in a hurry.

01:27It can take years for a site to be World Heritage Listed.

01:31Cape York is one of seven tentative listings Australia has put forward.

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