The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area is a diverse Aboriginal cultural landscape in which the cultural heritage of Tasmanian Aboriginal people is preserved.
It is significant to Tasmanian Aboriginal people because of the rich cultural heritage still present there.
The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area is also significant to Australia and the world community. It was formally recognised by the World Heritage Committee for its Outstanding Universal Value when it was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1982.
The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan 2016 outlines Key Desired Outcomes for managing Aboriginal cultural values and increasing the involvement of Aboriginal people in connecting with, managing and interpreting those values. Other Key Desired Outcomes focus on managing natural values, development, presentation, community engagement and general management.
Within the State Government, the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment is responsible for managing the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. This includes the Parks and Wildlife Service, Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania and other branches within the Natural and Cultural Heritage Division.
Within Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania the Cultural Management Group is implementing Key Desired Outcomes for Aboriginal cultural values from the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan 2016 in collaboration with Aboriginal people.
Ten criteria are used to assess a property for inscription on the World Heritage List. A site must be of Outstanding Universal Value and meet at least one out of ten Selection Criteria. The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area meets seven of these selection criteria.