Community survey results Living with World Heritage
Background and Highlights 2002/2003
Understanding community and visitor attitudes Survey highlights The Wet Tropics World Heritage Area covers an area of 1. Support for the World Heritage Area is steadily 900,000 hectares from Townsville to Cooktown in north increasing. Queensland. About 350,000 people live within 50km of 1992 51% strong support 17% oppose the World Heritage boundary, and an additional two 2003 58% strong support 12.4% oppose million people visit the region each year. 2. There is strong recognition of the quality of life The Australian Government’s listing of the World benefits from the World Heritage Area. Heritage Area in 1988 was met with hostility from the Queensland Government and many regional The most important advantages related to general communities, which lost access to timber and other quality of life issues, rather than actual visits or forest resources. In 1992, the Wet Tropics Management economic benefits. Authority was formed to oversee management of the 3. Perceived disadvantages are declining. World Heritage Area. Less than 20% of respondents identified The Authority’s role is to set policy and coordinate disadvantages associated with living near the World management of the World Heritage Area. It does not Heritage Area. directly manage land. About 80% is managed by the 4. The community is concerned about on-ground Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, while another management and consultation. 300 landholders manage the remaining 800 sq.km. One of the Authority’s goals is to foster community The community is not satisfied with the current understanding and support for the World Heritage standard of on-ground management. Feral pests and Area. In particular, it is charged with giving the World human activities are their greatest concerns. Heritage Area “a function in the life of the The majority of residents felt consultation and community”. communication between management agencies and In order to understand and assess community the community could be improved. attitudes, the Authority commissioned community surveys in 1992, 1993 and 1996 (AGB McNair). Issues for managers Neighbouring landholders were surveyed in 1999 (AC The surveys also highlighted the following issues that Nielsen). From 2001 to 2003, the Authority expanded require greater focus from the Authority and the land these studies to ensure community views would feed management agencies: into management of the World Heritage Area. The The majority of residents believed they were latest research was undertaken by Dr Joan knowledgeable about the World Heritage Area, Bentrupperbäumer and Dr Joseph Reser from the but many are unaware of its boundaries and how Rainforest CRC and James Cook University. Their it is managed. findings are based on two surveys: The differing roles of the Authority and other land A visitor survey of over 2,500 visitors at 10 key management agencies is poorly understood. visitor sites in 2001 and 2002. The community gave a mixed response to the A community survey of 788 residents living in 70 issue of Aboriginal co-management of the World regional towns and suburbs in 2002 and 2003. Heritage Area. While 58% of residents were supportive, 42% were opposed.
2 Living with World Heritage
Awareness and Support The community is very Why were the rainforests made a World Heritage Area? aware of the existence of the World Heritage Protection/conservation 46 Natural/geological 26 Area and strongly Preservation 15 Political 7 supports its Aesthetic 3 Community well being 2 protection. Residents Business opportunities 0.5 Indigenous/cultural 0.5 view the World 0 20 40 60 80 100 Percentage of responses Heritage Area as an integral part of their Further findings landscape, lifestyle 93% of residents are aware that most of the rainforests in this region of north Queensland are part of a World Heritage Area. and community. Over 82% indicated they are slightly / moderately knowledgeable about the World Heritage Area. Responses suggest a strong sense of