Latest news with #AustralianConservationFoundation
The Advertiser
7 days ago
- General
- The Advertiser
Rock art heritage listing to attract eyes of the world
Environmentalists and traditional owners who fear industrial pollution is harming ancient rock art hope World Heritage status will attract global scrutiny to the issue. The Murujuga rock art landscape in Western Australia was listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as a heritage site on Friday following lobbying by the federal government. The inscription recognises the First Nations cultural value of the more than one million engravings in WA's northwest, some of which are thought to be more than 50,000 years old. The site was previously put forward to UNESCO for World Heritage listing in 2023 but Australia's application was referred back in May. UNESCO recommended state and federal governments address concerns that nearby acid emissions were degrading the art, including those from Woodside's Burrup gas hub, which was recently granted provisional approval to operate for another 40 years. Federal and state governments and the Murujuga Cultural Landscape have been celebrating the win. But other traditional owners in Paris for the decision have been left disappointed after failing to secure protections from industry. "Global scrutiny will now be applied to what is happening at Murujuga," Mardathoonera woman and Murujuga traditional custodian Raelene Cooper said. "You cannot have industry and culture coexist. It's never happened. It never works," she said. Australian Conservation Foundation chief executive Kelly O'Shanassy said the "world is now watching" and urged the federal environment minister to reject Woodside's gas project extension. Environment Minister Murray Watt said his government was committed to protecting the site now and for future generations. "It has been a great privilege to support the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Murujuga to see this globally significant cultural landscape included on the World Heritage List," Senator Watt said. Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation chair Peter Hicks said it was an "exceptionally proud moment". "It is recognition of the hard work that MAC has put in to progressing this nomination, but it is also recognition of the way our ancestors have managed this extraordinary landscape for over 50,000 years," he said. Environmentalists and traditional owners who fear industrial pollution is harming ancient rock art hope World Heritage status will attract global scrutiny to the issue. The Murujuga rock art landscape in Western Australia was listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as a heritage site on Friday following lobbying by the federal government. The inscription recognises the First Nations cultural value of the more than one million engravings in WA's northwest, some of which are thought to be more than 50,000 years old. The site was previously put forward to UNESCO for World Heritage listing in 2023 but Australia's application was referred back in May. UNESCO recommended state and federal governments address concerns that nearby acid emissions were degrading the art, including those from Woodside's Burrup gas hub, which was recently granted provisional approval to operate for another 40 years. Federal and state governments and the Murujuga Cultural Landscape have been celebrating the win. But other traditional owners in Paris for the decision have been left disappointed after failing to secure protections from industry. "Global scrutiny will now be applied to what is happening at Murujuga," Mardathoonera woman and Murujuga traditional custodian Raelene Cooper said. "You cannot have industry and culture coexist. It's never happened. It never works," she said. Australian Conservation Foundation chief executive Kelly O'Shanassy said the "world is now watching" and urged the federal environment minister to reject Woodside's gas project extension. Environment Minister Murray Watt said his government was committed to protecting the site now and for future generations. "It has been a great privilege to support the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Murujuga to see this globally significant cultural landscape included on the World Heritage List," Senator Watt said. Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation chair Peter Hicks said it was an "exceptionally proud moment". "It is recognition of the hard work that MAC has put in to progressing this nomination, but it is also recognition of the way our ancestors have managed this extraordinary landscape for over 50,000 years," he said. Environmentalists and traditional owners who fear industrial pollution is harming ancient rock art hope World Heritage status will attract global scrutiny to the issue. The Murujuga rock art landscape in Western Australia was listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as a heritage site on Friday following lobbying by the federal government. The inscription recognises the First Nations cultural value of the more than one million engravings in WA's northwest, some of which are thought to be more than 50,000 years old. The site was previously put forward to UNESCO for World Heritage listing in 2023 but Australia's application was referred back in May. UNESCO recommended state and federal governments address concerns that nearby acid emissions were degrading the art, including those from Woodside's Burrup gas hub, which was recently granted provisional approval to operate for another 40 years. Federal and state governments and the Murujuga Cultural Landscape have been celebrating the win. But other traditional owners in Paris for the decision have been left disappointed after failing to secure protections from industry. "Global scrutiny will now be applied to what is happening at Murujuga," Mardathoonera woman and Murujuga traditional custodian Raelene Cooper said. "You cannot have industry and culture coexist. It's never happened. It never works," she said. Australian Conservation Foundation chief executive Kelly O'Shanassy said the "world is now watching" and urged the federal environment minister to reject Woodside's gas project extension. Environment Minister Murray Watt said his government was committed to protecting the site now and for future generations. "It has been a great privilege to support the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Murujuga to see this globally significant cultural landscape included on the World Heritage List," Senator Watt said. Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation chair Peter Hicks said it was an "exceptionally proud moment". "It is recognition of the hard work that MAC has put in to progressing this nomination, but it is also recognition of the way our ancestors have managed this extraordinary landscape for over 50,000 years," he said. Environmentalists and traditional owners who fear industrial pollution is harming ancient rock art hope World Heritage status will attract global scrutiny to the issue. The Murujuga rock art landscape in Western Australia was listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as a heritage site on Friday following lobbying by the federal government. The inscription recognises the First Nations cultural value of the more than one million engravings in WA's northwest, some of which are thought to be more than 50,000 years old. The site was previously put forward to UNESCO for World Heritage listing in 2023 but Australia's application was referred back in May. UNESCO recommended state and federal governments address concerns that nearby acid emissions were degrading the art, including those from Woodside's Burrup gas hub, which was recently granted provisional approval to operate for another 40 years. Federal and state governments and the Murujuga Cultural Landscape have been celebrating the win. But other traditional owners in Paris for the decision have been left disappointed after failing to secure protections from industry. "Global scrutiny will now be applied to what is happening at Murujuga," Mardathoonera woman and Murujuga traditional custodian Raelene Cooper said. "You cannot have industry and culture coexist. It's never happened. It never works," she said. Australian Conservation Foundation chief executive Kelly O'Shanassy said the "world is now watching" and urged the federal environment minister to reject Woodside's gas project extension. Environment Minister Murray Watt said his government was committed to protecting the site now and for future generations. "It has been a great privilege to support the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Murujuga to see this globally significant cultural landscape included on the World Heritage List," Senator Watt said. Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation chair Peter Hicks said it was an "exceptionally proud moment". "It is recognition of the hard work that MAC has put in to progressing this nomination, but it is also recognition of the way our ancestors have managed this extraordinary landscape for over 50,000 years," he said.
West Australian
12-07-2025
- General
- West Australian
Rock art heritage listing to attract eyes of the world
Environmentalists and traditional owners who fear industrial pollution is harming ancient rock art hope World Heritage status will attract global scrutiny to the issue. The Murujuga rock art landscape in Western Australia was listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as a heritage site on Friday following lobbying by the federal government. The inscription recognises the First Nations cultural value of the more than one million engravings in WA's northwest, some of which are thought to be more than 50,000 years old. The site was previously put forward to UNESCO for World Heritage listing in 2023 but Australia's application was referred back in May. UNESCO recommended state and federal governments address concerns that nearby acid emissions were degrading the art, including those from Woodside's Burrup gas hub, which was recently granted provisional approval to operate for another 40 years. Federal and state governments and the Murujuga Cultural Landscape have been celebrating the win. But other traditional owners in Paris for the decision have been left disappointed after failing to secure protections from industry. "Global scrutiny will now be applied to what is happening at Murujuga," Mardathoonera woman and Murujuga traditional custodian Raelene Cooper said. "You cannot have industry and culture coexist. It's never happened. It never works," she said. Australian Conservation Foundation chief executive Kelly O'Shanassy said the "world is now watching" and urged the federal environment minister to reject Woodside's gas project extension. Environment Minister Murray Watt said his government was committed to protecting the site now and for future generations. "It has been a great privilege to support the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Murujuga to see this globally significant cultural landscape included on the World Heritage List," Senator Watt said. Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation chair Peter Hicks said it was an "exceptionally proud moment". "It is recognition of the hard work that MAC has put in to progressing this nomination, but it is also recognition of the way our ancestors have managed this extraordinary landscape for over 50,000 years," he said.
Perth Now
12-07-2025
- General
- Perth Now
Rock art heritage listing to attract eyes of the world
Environmentalists and traditional owners who fear industrial pollution is harming ancient rock art hope World Heritage status will attract global scrutiny to the issue. The Murujuga rock art landscape in Western Australia was listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as a heritage site on Friday following lobbying by the federal government. The inscription recognises the First Nations cultural value of the more than one million engravings in WA's northwest, some of which are thought to be more than 50,000 years old. The site was previously put forward to UNESCO for World Heritage listing in 2023 but Australia's application was referred back in May. UNESCO recommended state and federal governments address concerns that nearby acid emissions were degrading the art, including those from Woodside's Burrup gas hub, which was recently granted provisional approval to operate for another 40 years. Federal and state governments and the Murujuga Cultural Landscape have been celebrating the win. But other traditional owners in Paris for the decision have been left disappointed after failing to secure protections from industry. "Global scrutiny will now be applied to what is happening at Murujuga," Mardathoonera woman and Murujuga traditional custodian Raelene Cooper said. "You cannot have industry and culture coexist. It's never happened. It never works," she said. Australian Conservation Foundation chief executive Kelly O'Shanassy said the "world is now watching" and urged the federal environment minister to reject Woodside's gas project extension. Environment Minister Murray Watt said his government was committed to protecting the site now and for future generations. "It has been a great privilege to support the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Murujuga to see this globally significant cultural landscape included on the World Heritage List," Senator Watt said. Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation chair Peter Hicks said it was an "exceptionally proud moment". "It is recognition of the hard work that MAC has put in to progressing this nomination, but it is also recognition of the way our ancestors have managed this extraordinary landscape for over 50,000 years," he said.
The Advertiser
12-07-2025
- General
- The Advertiser
Fears gas project will harm heritage listed rock art
Environmentalists fear the extension of a gas project could jeopardise the future of an ancient Indigenous rock art collection after it was listed as a World Heritage site. The Murujuga rock art landscape in Western Australia was listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as a heritage site on Friday after intense lobbying by the federal government. "Achieving World Heritage status ensures stronger protections under Australian legislation and will allow the world to celebrate this unique cultural landscape," Environment Minister Murray Watt said while visiting the organisation's headquarters in Paris. Murujuga contains the world's largest, densest and most diverse collection of rock art engravings - known as petroglyphs - and some are estimated to be more than 50,000 years old. They depict animals, plants and human figures, and are visible due to the colour and contrast between the removed varnish layer and the underlying brighter weathered rind of the host rocks. The site was previously put forward to UNESCO in 2023 but Australia's application was referred back in May. UNESCO recommended state and federal governments address concerns that nearby acid emissions, including those from Woodside's Burrup gas hub, were degrading the art. The peninsula in northwest WA near Karratha is home to two gas plants, a fertiliser plant and iron ore and salt export facilities. While environmentalists welcomed the heritage listing, they warned that the Woodside project extension could cause further damage. "The world is now watching," Australian Conservation Foundation chief executive Kelly O'Shanassy said. "The onus is on the Australian government to make sure the values recognised by UNESCO are not jeopardised by ongoing industrial pollution. If the federal government is serious about protecting Murujuga and making sure it is not moved to an "in danger" list, Senator Watt should reject the gas hub's proposed expansion, Ms O'Shanassy added. Mardathoonera woman and Murujuga traditional custodian Raelene Cooper, who was at the UNESCO meeting, also cautioned that industry could still harm the rock art site. "Fertiliser plants are still being built around our sacred sites and polluting gas plants will emit toxic acid on our rock art for another 50 years," she said. "We will continue to fight for protection for this very special place, and the world is now aware of what we are up against." Greens Leader Larissa Waters joined the chorus of advocate voices in urging Senator Watt to cancel the approval for the North West shelf. "UNESCO had warned that Woodside's gas plant threatened the longevity of the rock art prior to the listing, but Minister Watt successfully lobbied other nations when he should have simply rejected Woodside's climate bomb extension in the first place," she said. Senator Waters added that world heritage laws should be bolstered to better protect listed sites. Australia has 21 properties on the World Heritage list, which includes the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and the Great Barrier Reef. UNESCO added several other sites to its list, including the Xixia Imperial Tombs in China and the Faya Palaeolandscape in the United Arab Emirates. Environmentalists fear the extension of a gas project could jeopardise the future of an ancient Indigenous rock art collection after it was listed as a World Heritage site. The Murujuga rock art landscape in Western Australia was listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as a heritage site on Friday after intense lobbying by the federal government. "Achieving World Heritage status ensures stronger protections under Australian legislation and will allow the world to celebrate this unique cultural landscape," Environment Minister Murray Watt said while visiting the organisation's headquarters in Paris. Murujuga contains the world's largest, densest and most diverse collection of rock art engravings - known as petroglyphs - and some are estimated to be more than 50,000 years old. They depict animals, plants and human figures, and are visible due to the colour and contrast between the removed varnish layer and the underlying brighter weathered rind of the host rocks. The site was previously put forward to UNESCO in 2023 but Australia's application was referred back in May. UNESCO recommended state and federal governments address concerns that nearby acid emissions, including those from Woodside's Burrup gas hub, were degrading the art. The peninsula in northwest WA near Karratha is home to two gas plants, a fertiliser plant and iron ore and salt export facilities. While environmentalists welcomed the heritage listing, they warned that the Woodside project extension could cause further damage. "The world is now watching," Australian Conservation Foundation chief executive Kelly O'Shanassy said. "The onus is on the Australian government to make sure the values recognised by UNESCO are not jeopardised by ongoing industrial pollution. If the federal government is serious about protecting Murujuga and making sure it is not moved to an "in danger" list, Senator Watt should reject the gas hub's proposed expansion, Ms O'Shanassy added. Mardathoonera woman and Murujuga traditional custodian Raelene Cooper, who was at the UNESCO meeting, also cautioned that industry could still harm the rock art site. "Fertiliser plants are still being built around our sacred sites and polluting gas plants will emit toxic acid on our rock art for another 50 years," she said. "We will continue to fight for protection for this very special place, and the world is now aware of what we are up against." Greens Leader Larissa Waters joined the chorus of advocate voices in urging Senator Watt to cancel the approval for the North West shelf. "UNESCO had warned that Woodside's gas plant threatened the longevity of the rock art prior to the listing, but Minister Watt successfully lobbied other nations when he should have simply rejected Woodside's climate bomb extension in the first place," she said. Senator Waters added that world heritage laws should be bolstered to better protect listed sites. Australia has 21 properties on the World Heritage list, which includes the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and the Great Barrier Reef. UNESCO added several other sites to its list, including the Xixia Imperial Tombs in China and the Faya Palaeolandscape in the United Arab Emirates. Environmentalists fear the extension of a gas project could jeopardise the future of an ancient Indigenous rock art collection after it was listed as a World Heritage site. The Murujuga rock art landscape in Western Australia was listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as a heritage site on Friday after intense lobbying by the federal government. "Achieving World Heritage status ensures stronger protections under Australian legislation and will allow the world to celebrate this unique cultural landscape," Environment Minister Murray Watt said while visiting the organisation's headquarters in Paris. Murujuga contains the world's largest, densest and most diverse collection of rock art engravings - known as petroglyphs - and some are estimated to be more than 50,000 years old. They depict animals, plants and human figures, and are visible due to the colour and contrast between the removed varnish layer and the underlying brighter weathered rind of the host rocks. The site was previously put forward to UNESCO in 2023 but Australia's application was referred back in May. UNESCO recommended state and federal governments address concerns that nearby acid emissions, including those from Woodside's Burrup gas hub, were degrading the art. The peninsula in northwest WA near Karratha is home to two gas plants, a fertiliser plant and iron ore and salt export facilities. While environmentalists welcomed the heritage listing, they warned that the Woodside project extension could cause further damage. "The world is now watching," Australian Conservation Foundation chief executive Kelly O'Shanassy said. "The onus is on the Australian government to make sure the values recognised by UNESCO are not jeopardised by ongoing industrial pollution. If the federal government is serious about protecting Murujuga and making sure it is not moved to an "in danger" list, Senator Watt should reject the gas hub's proposed expansion, Ms O'Shanassy added. Mardathoonera woman and Murujuga traditional custodian Raelene Cooper, who was at the UNESCO meeting, also cautioned that industry could still harm the rock art site. "Fertiliser plants are still being built around our sacred sites and polluting gas plants will emit toxic acid on our rock art for another 50 years," she said. "We will continue to fight for protection for this very special place, and the world is now aware of what we are up against." Greens Leader Larissa Waters joined the chorus of advocate voices in urging Senator Watt to cancel the approval for the North West shelf. "UNESCO had warned that Woodside's gas plant threatened the longevity of the rock art prior to the listing, but Minister Watt successfully lobbied other nations when he should have simply rejected Woodside's climate bomb extension in the first place," she said. Senator Waters added that world heritage laws should be bolstered to better protect listed sites. Australia has 21 properties on the World Heritage list, which includes the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and the Great Barrier Reef. UNESCO added several other sites to its list, including the Xixia Imperial Tombs in China and the Faya Palaeolandscape in the United Arab Emirates. Environmentalists fear the extension of a gas project could jeopardise the future of an ancient Indigenous rock art collection after it was listed as a World Heritage site. The Murujuga rock art landscape in Western Australia was listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as a heritage site on Friday after intense lobbying by the federal government. "Achieving World Heritage status ensures stronger protections under Australian legislation and will allow the world to celebrate this unique cultural landscape," Environment Minister Murray Watt said while visiting the organisation's headquarters in Paris. Murujuga contains the world's largest, densest and most diverse collection of rock art engravings - known as petroglyphs - and some are estimated to be more than 50,000 years old. They depict animals, plants and human figures, and are visible due to the colour and contrast between the removed varnish layer and the underlying brighter weathered rind of the host rocks. The site was previously put forward to UNESCO in 2023 but Australia's application was referred back in May. UNESCO recommended state and federal governments address concerns that nearby acid emissions, including those from Woodside's Burrup gas hub, were degrading the art. The peninsula in northwest WA near Karratha is home to two gas plants, a fertiliser plant and iron ore and salt export facilities. While environmentalists welcomed the heritage listing, they warned that the Woodside project extension could cause further damage. "The world is now watching," Australian Conservation Foundation chief executive Kelly O'Shanassy said. "The onus is on the Australian government to make sure the values recognised by UNESCO are not jeopardised by ongoing industrial pollution. If the federal government is serious about protecting Murujuga and making sure it is not moved to an "in danger" list, Senator Watt should reject the gas hub's proposed expansion, Ms O'Shanassy added. Mardathoonera woman and Murujuga traditional custodian Raelene Cooper, who was at the UNESCO meeting, also cautioned that industry could still harm the rock art site. "Fertiliser plants are still being built around our sacred sites and polluting gas plants will emit toxic acid on our rock art for another 50 years," she said. "We will continue to fight for protection for this very special place, and the world is now aware of what we are up against." Greens Leader Larissa Waters joined the chorus of advocate voices in urging Senator Watt to cancel the approval for the North West shelf. "UNESCO had warned that Woodside's gas plant threatened the longevity of the rock art prior to the listing, but Minister Watt successfully lobbied other nations when he should have simply rejected Woodside's climate bomb extension in the first place," she said. Senator Waters added that world heritage laws should be bolstered to better protect listed sites. Australia has 21 properties on the World Heritage list, which includes the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and the Great Barrier Reef. UNESCO added several other sites to its list, including the Xixia Imperial Tombs in China and the Faya Palaeolandscape in the United Arab Emirates.
Miami Herald
27-06-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Two iconic Australian animals meet in ‘rarely documented' encounter. Take a look
In a remote part of southeastern Australia, two iconic native animals went about their daily business — until they came face-to-face. A nearby trail camera captured the 'rarely documented' encounter, exciting the witnessing ecologists. Ecologists set up a trail camera at Oxley Wild Rivers National Park in New South Wales (NSW) to monitor a colony of brush-tailed rock-wallabies. The animals are endangered and 'hard to see in the wild' because 'they live in rugged terrain along rocky outcrops, cliffs, ledges and caves,' the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service said. While monitoring the video feed in early May, park staff saw a pair of rock-wallabies come face-to-face with a spotted-tailed quoll, a local predator, the department said in a June 7 Facebook post. The roughly 30-second video shows a rock-wallaby moving along an outcropping when a spotted-tailed quoll appears from the brush and starts climbing up the rocks. The animals see each other and almost seem to make eye contact. In response, the quoll bolts, running across the rock, while the rock-wallabies start 'puffing out their chests to deter the unwelcome visitor,' park officials said and the video shows. 'While a quoll has been detected in the brush-tailed rock-wallaby colony on two other occasions … the (May) sighting was the first recorded observation of brush-tailed rock-wallabies responding to a quoll's presence by posturing, where they puff up their chest and stand up tall,' a park spokesperson told McClatchy News via a June 27 email. 'While we don't know for certain if this is the same quoll as before, quolls are known to return to the same 'latrine site' — basically, their preferred poop spot,' park officials said. The spotted-tailed quoll, also known as the tiger quoll, is an endangered marsupial and the 'largest native carnivore left on the (Australia) mainland,' according to the Australian Conservation Foundation. About 14,000 spotted-tailed quolls are left in the wild, the organization said. These quolls are 'semi-regularly observed' at Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, and the May sighting confirms 'their ongoing presence within the park,' the spokesperson said. The sighting was also 'a valuable opportunity to better understand these animal's behaviour particularly because interactions between quolls and brush-tailed rock-wallabies have been rarely documented,' the spokesperson said. 'The recording highlights that there is still much to learn about the animals and plants that live in NSW.' Oxley Wild Rivers National Park is near the southeastern coast of Australia and a roughly 290-mile drive northeast from Sydney.
