Australia declares World Heritage Listing to Protect Indigenous Carvings

The government announced on Saturday that securing World Heritage status for Australia’s Murujuga Rock art will help to protect the ancient Indigenous carvings located in an industry hub.

The art is thought to be at least 50,000 years old and lies on a peninsula with gas and explosives factories, which highlights the delicate relationship between the nation’s Indigenous culture, and its vital resource industries.

UNESCO awarded World Heritage status on Friday to the site located in the Burrup Peninsula after a "tireless nominating process" that began in 2023. Environment Minister Murray Watt said.

Watt stated in a press release that "the Australian Government is committed to World Heritage, and the protection First Nations cultural heritage." "We will protect this exceptional place for the present and future generations."

Peter Hicks said that the UNESCO designation was a way to protect "the extraordinary landscape".

Two liquefied gas plants are run by Woodside, and Yara International's fertiliser and explosive plants are located on the peninsula of Western Australia.

The Australian government extended in May the lifespan of Woodside’s largest gas facility in the region, North West Shelf. This will take the plant until 2070. The extension could generate an additional 4.3 billion tons of carbon emissions.

The impact of Australia's resource industry on Indigenous heritage has increased since Rio Tinto, world's largest iron ore mining company, destroyed 46,000-year old Juukan Gorge as part of mine expansion in 2020. (Reporting and editing by William Mallard in Sydney, Sam McKeith from Sydney)

(source: Reuters)