Source of life on the world’s driest inhabited continent. From the days of the Franklin River campaign in Tasmania, wild rivers have captured the imagination of Australia. Little known is that the majority of Australia’s wild rivers are in the tropical north. The natural river flows that are the heartbeat of the North’s diverse ecosystems and lifeblood for many existing communities are under threat from dams, irrigation schemes, and land clearing in their catchments.
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| Queensland's Wild Rivers |
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The magnificent rivers of the Cape York Peninsula are the lifeblood of local communities - and support a huge diversity of wildlife. Go to Wild Rivers special site »
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Support the Wenlock Wild River protection proposal
We have just made a major breakthrough in the long-term protection of our beloved Wenlock River on Cape York Peninsula.
The Queensland Government has released a draft protection proposal for this irreplaceable river under Queensland's wild rivers legislation.
A tide of community support is now critical to improve the protection plan and make sure the Government follows through.
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| Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of this landmark High Court decision |
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On July 1, we celebrate 25 years since the High Court decision that 'Let the Franklin run free'. In this Four Part series on the Franklin River campaign, author William J. Lines charts the rise of Australia's conservation movement - and a famous win for the environment.
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Wild Rivers Updates
- The Cape York Peninsula conservation debate - June 24, 2009
- The Wilderness Society supports Cape York Wild River declarations and stands by its work with Traditional Owners - April 14, 2009
- Three more wild rivers protected! Now let's save the Wenlock - April 03, 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.”
Three river basins on Cape York have been declared as ‘wild rivers’. Few important conservation achievements come easily, and these wild rivers declarations have attracted a negative response from pro-large scale development interests, who are attacking The Wilderness Society for its campaign on protecting free flowing rivers. We are now also being accused of not listening to Aboriginal people and of disregarding their rights – claims we completely refute.
The Archer, Lockhart and Stewart River Basins on Cape York have just been declared wild rivers by QLD's Premier Anna Bligh, who is delivering on her election promises. Now let's do the same for the Wenlock River, on Cape York Peninsula.
Wild Rivers Media Releases
- Conservation and Indigenous partnerships key to future of Cape York - June 24, 2009
- Assumed opposition between Cape York Indigenous people and green groups “simply wrong” - June 09, 2009
- Pearson’s anti Cape York conservation campaign reaches new low - June 07, 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.
Suggestions that the Wild Rivers controversy in Queensland shows a fundamental opposition between Cape York Indigenous people and ‘green’ groups are “simply wrong”, The Wilderness Society stated today. The recent declaration of the Archer River basin as a Wild River by the Queensland Government was the impetus for a gathering on Country between Wik, Wik Waya, and Kugu senior elders and Traditional Owners, and Wilderness Society campaigners.
The Wilderness Society accused Noel Pearson of reaching a new low in his misinformation campaign against conservation initiatives on Cape York Peninsula. Mr Pearson challenged anyone to "Tell me one World Heritage Area where fishing and hunting are allowed". In response, the Wilderness Society can immediately name at least three such Australian examples, two of which are in close proximity to Cairns, where Mr Pearson lives.
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