World Heritage listing

In 1972, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recognised the need to identify and permanently protect the world's special areas and adopted the World Heritage Convention. Founded on the principle of international cooperation, the Convention provides for the protection of the world's cultural and natural heritage places. It came into force in 1975 after being initially ratified by 20 countries.

By adopting the Convention in August 1974, Australia became one of the first of more than 140 countries committed to the identification, protection, conservation and presentation of World Heritage properties. The Convention is UNESCO's most widely accepted international instrument and also the world's most ratified agreement on conservation.

The World Heritage Convention is administered by the World Heritage Committee which consists of 21 elected nations, all parties to the Convention

In 1990 the Australian Federal Government and Queensland State Governments agreed on a framework to manage the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. They decided to establish a small Cairns-based agency which would be responsible for managing the Wet Tropics according to Australia's obligations under the World Heritage Convention.

Unlike a regular Government department, it would answer to both the Queensland State Government and the Australian Federal Government, and it would be directed by an independent board of directors appointed by the Ministerial Council.

This agency is the Wet Tropics Management Authority.