Gondwana Rainforests

Australia separated from the landmass Gondwana about 40 million years ago, at which point most of the continent was covered in rainforests. These rainforests receded as the continent travelled north, and by 1788, just 1% of Australia was covered by rainforests. Australia's remaining rainforests were heavily affected by logging following European colonisation, which led to the destruction of a further 75% of the rainforests that had been present in 1788. Australia added a further expansion of the site to its Tentative List in 2010. The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia were added to the Australian National Heritage List on 15 May 2007 and to the New South Wales Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. The site receives around 2 million visitors each year, and many of the rainforest reserves contain visitor facilities and walking trails. The Gondwana Rainforests are primarily managed by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and by the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service. == Features and conservation ==

, previously thought to be extinct, was rediscovered in the Gondwana Rainforests. Plant species of conservation significance in the Gondwana Rainforests include species of Cryptocarya, Tasmannia, and Endiandra. The site also contains the remains of two extinct volcanoes: the Tweed Shield Volcano—described as among the world's best preserved erosion calderas—and the Ebor Volcano. The Gondwana Rainforests were severely damaged by the 2019–2020 Australian bushfire season, which affected about 53% of the site's land area. The parma wallaby, Hastings River mouse, rufous scrubbird, and nightcap oak were among the species most heavily impacted by the fires. Ongoing threats to the Gondwana Rainforests include weeds and invasive species, including myrtle rust and bitou bush, pathogens, and climate change. ==Sites==