This July, we welcomed 2 leaders from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to Australia.
It was an opportunity to showcase Australia's leading management of our World Heritage sites.
The delegates were:
- Dr Aguilar - Director General of the IUCN.
- Mr Badman - Director of the World Heritage Programme at the IUCN.
The IUCN is the world's largest and most diverse environmental network. As a key advisor to the World Heritage Committee, it has a crucial role in supporting global conservation efforts. Together, its members work to
- protect nature
- ensure sustainable natural resource use.
From 29 July to 5 August, delegates met with partners and visited some of our unique World Heritage sites. It was an opportunity to learn how First Nations peoples care for Country.
Highlights included trips to:
- Kakadu National Park - Delegates met with Traditional Owners and rangers and saw how we work together to protect wetlands and conserve cultural heritage. They discussed potential inclusion of the Jabiluka area into the World Heritage site.
- Garma Festival - Delegates took part in the celebration of Yolngu culture in northeast Arnhem Land. They met with Minister Watt and learned how First Nations-led efforts are helping to protect land and sea.
- Cairns - Delegates met with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Queensland Government. They learned about coral reef restoration and building climate resilience.
We remain committed to working with international partners on global challenges. This includes the impact of climate change on World Heritage sites. We now look forward to the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi in October.
