Glossary 5
Abbreviations 9
Executive summary 11
1.Introduction 16
1.1Background 16
1.2Study area 18
1.3World Heritage explanation and project focus 23
1.To represent a masterpiece of human creative genius. 23
2.To exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design. 23
3.To bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared. 23
4.To be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history. 23
5.To be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change. 23
6.To be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria). 23
7.To contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance. 23
8.To be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features. 23
9.To be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals. 23
10.To contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation. 23
1.4Project aims 24
1.Identify and recommend high priority conservation areas within the Lower Hunter region through an assessment of World Heritage values (and complementary values) across portions of the GBMWHA and adjacent lands in the Cessnock LGA. 24
11.Analysis and identification of potential threats to World Heritage values as a result of development and conservation considerations. 24
12.Analysis and identification of potential measures to protect, maintain and improve World Heritage values in the region. 24
1.5Acknowledgements 25
2.Methods 27
2.1Personnel 27
2.2Literature review 27
2.3Stakeholder consultation 29
2.4Priority conservation mapping 30
13.High (3) – vegetation communities that occur in GBMWHA and occur within the Cessnock LGA 31
14.Medium (2) – eucalypt dominated vegetation communities 31
15.Low (1) non-eucalypt dominated communities. 31
2.5GIS analysis 34
2.6Fieldwork 35
2.7Limitations 36
3.Values assessment 38
3.1World Heritage Values within GBMWHA 38
3.2World Heritage Values in Cessnock LGA 41
3.3Migratory species 50
3.4Commonwealth listed threatened ecological communities 50
3.5State listed threatened ecological communities 51
3.6Values in nearby areas 52
4.Priority conservation areas 54
4.1Mapping results 54
4.2Priority conservation areas 64
5.Threats and management 68
5.1Key threatening processes 68
5.2Regional overview 68
5.3Discussion of key threats 70
16.Exotic Rust Fungi of the order Uredinales (Myrtle Rust, Uredo rangelii) 78
17.Root-rot Fungus (Phytophthora cinnamomi) 78
6.Field verification 92
6.1Western Region 92
6.2Central Region 99
6.3Eastern Region 103
6.4Chapter summary 105
7.Conclusion and recommendations 108
7.1Conclusion 108
7.2Recommendations 110
8.References 114
18.
Eucalypt species recorded in Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area 119
19.
Key Threatening Processes (KTPs) within GBMWHA and complementary lands 125
a)Key Threatening Processes (KTPs) within GBMWHA and complementary lands 126
1.To represent a masterpiece of human creative genius. 23
2.To exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design. 23
3.To bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared. 23
4.To be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history. 23
5.To be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change. 23
6.To be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria). 23
7.To contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance. 23
8.To be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features. 23
9.To be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals. 23
10.To contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation. 23
1.Identify and recommend high priority conservation areas within the Lower Hunter region through an assessment of World Heritage values (and complementary values) across portions of the GBMWHA and adjacent lands in the Cessnock LGA. 24
11.Analysis and identification of potential threats to World Heritage values as a result of development and conservation considerations. 24
12.Analysis and identification of potential measures to protect, maintain and improve World Heritage values in the region. 24
13.High (3) – vegetation communities that occur in GBMWHA and occur within the Cessnock LGA 31
14.Medium (2) – eucalypt dominated vegetation communities 31
15.Low (1) non-eucalypt dominated communities. 31
16.Exotic Rust Fungi of the order Uredinales (Myrtle Rust, Uredo rangelii) 78
17.Root-rot Fungus (Phytophthora cinnamomi) 78
18.
Eucalypt species recorded in Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area 119
18.
Eucalypt species recorded in Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area 119
19.
Key Threatening Processes (KTPs) within GBMWHA and complementary lands 125
19.
Key Threatening Processes (KTPs) within GBMWHA and complementary lands 125
a)Key Threatening Processes (KTPs) within GBMWHA and complementary lands 126