Frequently asked questions
How big is Kakadu National Park?
Kakadu National Park is an Aboriginal cultural landscape located in the wet-dry tropics of northern Australia. the park covers an area of 19 804 km2 within the Alligator Rivers Region of the Northern Territory of Australia. It extends from the coast in the north to the southern hills and basins 150 km to the south, and from the Arnhem Land sandstone plateau in the east, 120 km through wooded savannas to its western boundary.
Who owns Kakadu National Park?
Approximately 50% of the land in the park is Aboriginal land under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976, and most of the remaining area of land is under claim by Aboriginal people. Title to Aboriginal land in the park is held by Aboriginal land trusts. The land trusts have leased their land to the Director of National Parks for the purpose of a national park for the enjoyment and benefit of all Australians. Traditional owners expect that having their land managed as a national park would assist them in looking after their land in the face of growing and competing pressures. They see a national park as establishing a way to manage the land that could protect their interests and be sympathetic to their aspirations. Parks Australia and the Aboriginal traditional owners of Kakadu are committed to the principle of joint management of the park and arrangements to help this happen are highlighted throughout the parks Management Plan.
When was Kakadu National Park declared?
Kakadu was declared in three stages. Stage one was declared on 5 April 1979, stage two was declared on 28 February 1984 while stage three was declared in successive stages on 12 June 1987, 22 November 1989 and 24 June 1991.
When did Kakadu National Park gain its world heritage status?
Kakadu has been listed on the World Heritage List for both its natural and cultural value. Stage one was inscribed in 1981 and stage two in 1987. The whole of the park was listed in December 1992. The records of the 1992 meeting of the World Heritage Committee that considered the consolidated listing of Kakadu commended the Australian authorities 'for concluding a 10 year programme to extend the park and for the exemplary management operation at the park'. The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is concerned with identifying, protecting and conserving cultural or natural features of outstanding universal value. Parties to the Convention undertake to identify, protect, conserve, present and transmit to future generations the World Heritage properties on their territory.
What World Heritage status does Kakadu National Park have?
The natural and cultural heritage of the park has been recognised by the inscription of the park on the World Heritage List. At the time of writing, Kakadu is one of only twenty-two World Heritage sites listed for both its natural and cultural heritage.
Kakadu is listed as a World Heritage site against the following cultural and natural criteria:
Cultural Criteria:
(i) represent a unique artistic achievement, a masterpiece of a creative genius; and
(vi) be directly or tangibly associated with events or with ideas or beliefs of outstanding universal significance.
Natural Criteria:
(ii) outstanding examples representing significant ongoing geological processes, biological evolution and man's interaction with his natural environment;
(iii) unique, rare or superlative natural phenomena, formations or features or areas of exceptional natural beauty; and
(iv) the most important and significant habitats where threatened species of plants and animals of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science and conservation still survive.
What international agreements is Kakadu National Park party too?
In addition to its World Heritage listing Kakadu is on the Register of the National Estate because of its national significance to the Australian people. The wetlands of Kakadu are recognised for their international significance, under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (the Ramsar convention).
Other treaties: Kakadu is also subject to international treaties for the protection of other wildlife and habitats, including the:
- Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of Japan for the Protection of Migratory Birds and Birds in Danger of Extinction and their Environment (JAMBA). Forty-six of the 76 birds listed under this agreement are found in the park;
- Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the People's Republic of China for the Protection of Migratory Birds and their Environment (CAMBA). Fifty of the 81 birds listed under this agreement occur in the park;
- Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn Convention). Twenty-one of the species listed under this convention are found in Kakadu;
- Kakadu is a participant in the East Asian - Australian Shorebird Site Network, which is an initiative of the Asia Pacific Migratory Waterbird Conservation Strategy;
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); and
- Convention on Conservation of Nature in the South Pacific (Apia Convention).
How many people visit Kakadu National Park?
In 1985 approximately 100,000 people visited Kakadu National Park. In the late 1980s visitor number increased rapidly and during the early 1990s visitor numbers averaged about 230,000 people per year. Currently about 210,000 people visit Kakadu each year. Visitor numbers are greatest during the dry season months of June to September (approximately 33,000 people visit each July) and lowest during the wet season months (approximately 7,000 people visit each January).