The greatest savanna wildernesss on Earth Northern Australia is one of the last great wild places on Earth, and the largest and most intact tropical savannah anywhere. Stretching 2,500 km, from the Kimberley region in Western Australia across to Cape York Peninsula in far north Queensland, it forms a vast arc of forests, woodlands, wild rivers and monsoonal wetlands. But the decline of many bird populations, invasion of exotic animals, the threat of climate change and a wave of proposals to expand irrigated farming, land clearing, mining and dams has left one of the world's greatest wilderness areas on the verge of devastating change.
Australia's irreplaceable Cape York Peninsula is one of the last great wild places on Earth. The Wilderness Society is campaigning to protect the wild rivers and World Heritage values of this remarkable place.
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The Top End of the Northern Territory is home to some of Australia’s best known and loved places including the magnificent Kakadu National Park. In the Top End, The Wilderness Society is campaigning to protect the beautiful Daly River.
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The rugged wilderness coastline of the Kimberley is known throughout the world. The Wilderness Society is campaigning to protect the Kimberly from proposals to massively industrialise the Kimberley coastline.
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Northern Australia Updates
- The Cape York Peninsula conservation debate - June 24, 2009
- The Wilderness Society outlines a vision for conservation and compatible development in the Kimberley - June 22, 2009
- Cape York Peninsula - a step closer to World Heritage - May 25, 2009
Cape York Peninsula in far north Queensland is one of the largest intact and most diverse landscapes left on Earth. It is a land rich in nature and culture, where Indigenous peoples’ connections to their Country are active and strong. A worldwide study by Conservation International to identity the Earth’s last remaining wilderness areas lists Cape York Peninsula as one of “wildest tropical environments left on the planet.”
The Wilderness Society has taken a lead role alongside other major environment groups in producing an important submission outlining what we would like see come out of the WA State government’s election commitment of $9m for a Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy (KS&CS).
The decision by the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments to consider Cape York for World Heritage protection is both welcome and long overdue. What this means is that the two Governments are committed to jointly assess the region for World Heritage values, identify areas suitable for long term protection and ensure local community support before making a formal nomination to UNESCO.
Northern Australia Media Releases
- Conservation and Indigenous partnerships key to future of Cape York - June 24, 2009
- WA Government must set bar high for Kimberley conservation strategy - June 22, 2009
- Thousands of Australians put their Hands Up for the Kimberley! - June 16, 2009
Partnerships between Traditional Owners and conservation groups are laying important foundation stones for a brighter future for Indigenous communities on Cape York, the director of peak indigenous group Wik Projects, Gina Castelain told a meeting of the Australian Government Working Group on Advancing Reconciliation in Natural Resource Management in Cairns yesterday.
A collaboration of major environmental groups today called for a dramatic change in the conservation management and planning for the Kimberley – saying the current ad hoc approach was putting one of the largest and intact natural areas in the world at severe risk.
Nationwide concern over plans for industrial development in the iconic Kimberley region will be turned into action through a new online initiative by the Wilderness Society.
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