Twenty-one major wild river systems sustain Cape York's unique tropical landscape. Cape York is one of the last great wild places on Earth. Like the Congo, the Serengeti and the Amazon, it deserves the highest protection possible. It is an extraordinary environment with seamless transitions between mangroves, tropical rainforests, savannahs, wetlands - and bountiful coasts and seas. Bounded by the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics World Heritage areas, it is half the size of Britain, and nearly as big as the entire state of Victoria.
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| Cape York for World Heritage |
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Cape York Peninsula is a land of abundant nature and culture - where less than 1% of the land has ever been cleared. But this diverse and unspoilt landscape is largely unprotected. Today, you and I have an opportunity to ensure it becomes part of the largest network of World Heritage areas on the planet. |
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| Queensland's Wild Rivers |
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Queensland is lucky to retain some of the world’s healthiest natural river systems. They underpin regional economies and support unique and diverse wildlife. Free of dams, weirs, polluting irrigation schemes and industrial development, the natural and cultural values of these rivers remain largely intact.
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| Indigenous Conservation |
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Taking a WildCountry “big picture” approach to conservation, The Wilderness Society is supporting the development of a globally recognised Indigenous Conservation Estate on Cape York Peninsula. |
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Watch Cape York slideshow |
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Take action online - help protect Cape York. |
Cape York Updates
- Abbott braving the rapids over Wild Rivers legislation - January 14, 2010
- Crazy northern schemes torpedoed by reality check - October 09, 2009
- Mining the Wenlock? … what a croc! - October 13, 2009
Tony Abbott’s "fair dinkum environmentalism" was spectacularly short-lived. If putting trade ahead of protecting whales, and labelling climate change concerns "crap" weren’t enough, Abbott has now launched a campaign to try to undo protections on pristine river systems on Cape York -- some of the last natural, free-flowing rivers in the country.
In late September, Australia’s leading scientific research organisation, the CSIRO, provided a much needed reality check to mad schemes to turn northern Australia into a giant irrigated farm.
Bauxite mining companies have the Wenlock River area firmly in their sights, but a looming decision by the Queensland Government on the Wild River declaration proposal for the Wenlock could protect one of Australia’s last free-flowing rivers and the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve from these destructive mines.
Cape York Media Releases
- Myth of Northern 'food bowl' finally put to rest - February 08, 2010
- Pearson's mining stance a danger to Cape York rivers and wetlands - January 15, 2010
- "I’m an environmentalist…. ha, ha, ha" - January 13, 2010
The Wilderness Society and Environs Kimberley today welcomed key elements of the new policy blueprint for future development in Northern Australia released by the Northern Australia Land and Water Taskforce.
"It is profoundly irresponsible of Mr Pearson to support this sort of development over the protection of our national heritage, thereby frustrating genuinely sustainable ecological development."
The Wilderness Society will greet guests tonight at The Sydney Institute’s event featuring Tony Abbott speaking about his environmental credentials.
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