Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
INCLUSION OF A PLACE IN THE NATIONAL HERITAGE LIST
LESUEUR NATIONAL PARK
I, Greg Hunt, Minister for the Environment, having considered in relation to the place described in the Schedule of this instrument:
(a) the Australian Heritage Council's assessment whether the place meets any of the National Heritage criteria; and
(b) the comments relating to the place given to the Council under sections 324JG and 324JH of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999; and
being satisfied that the place described in the Schedule has the National Heritage values specified in the Schedule, pursuant to section 324JJ of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, include the place and its National Heritage values in the National Heritage List.
Dated 4 May 2016
[signed]
Greg Hunt
Minister for the Environment
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Shire of Dandragan; Shire of Coorow
Lesueur National Park:
An area of approximately 27,235 ha, Coorow-Green Head road, 3km east of Green Head, comprising the whole of the Lesueur National Park as gazetted on 24/1/1992.
| Criterion | Values |
(a) | the place has outstanding heritage value to the nation because of the place's importance in the course, or pattern, of Australia's natural or cultural history. | The Lesueur National Park contains an exceptional concentration of plant species richness and endemism. The Lesueur National Park is estimated to contain over 900 plant species. This includes nine plant taxa which are endemic to the National Park and 111 taxa which are endemic to the surrounding region. A further 81 plant taxa are at the northern or southern limit of their distribution, which is significant for the evolution of new species. The highly weathered soils of the region have driven high rates of speciation and local endemism, as plants have evolved different strategies to acquire and use available nutrients. Plant species richness and endemism is particularly high in the Lesueur National Park due to its unusually large range of geology, soil types and topography. This supports a diverse community of shrublands and heath, as well as woodlands occurring mainly along creek lines and in lower parts of the landscape. The National Park is one of the most important places in Australia for demonstrating species richness and endemism within the Proteaceae plant family, including the genera of Banksia, Hakea, Dryandra, Grevillea and Isopogon. The National Park contains outstanding species richness and endemism in several other plant families such as: the Fabaceae family, including the genera of Gastrolobium (poison pea), Daviesia (bitter pea) and Jacksonia (dogwood); the Myrtaceae family, including the genera of Verticordia (feather flower) and Melaleuca (paper bark); the Haemodoraceae family (bloodroots, conostyles and kangaroo paws); the Stylidiaceae family (triggerplants); and the Droseraceae family (sundews). |
(d) | the place has outstanding heritage value to the nation because of the place's importance in demonstrating the principal characteristics of: (i) a class of Australia's natural or cultural places; or (ii) a class of Australia's natural or cultural environments. | South-west Australia is one of 35 internationally recognised 'hotspots' for biodiversity, containing high levels of plant species richness and endemism. The Lesueur National Park is one of the best places to demonstrate the extraordinary plant life of the region. It contains over 10 per cent of the plant species found in south-west Australia, including a high number of locally endemic plants. The Lesueur National Park is therefore one of the most important reserves for plant conservation in Australia. |
For more information on the place search the Australian Heritage Database at http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl using the name of the place.