CANBERRA, Australia, May 8, 2002 (ENS) - Potential World Heritage sites in the Asia-Pacific region will receive more attention from now on, following a new agreement signed Tuesday between the government of Australia and UNESCO.

In this 30th anniversary year of the World Heritage Convention, Australian Environment and Heritage Minister, Dr. David Kemp and Koïchiro Matsuura, the director-general of UNESCO, signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding on World Heritage issues in the Asia-Pacific.

Matsuura is in Australia for discussions with ministers and officials on issues of regional interest, and to further develop the already close cooperative links between UNESCO and Australia, Dr. Kemp's office said.

East Rennell Island World Heritage Site (Photo courtesy UNESCO)

"Pacific Island countries have places of outstanding heritage value, but only one site, East Rennell Island in the Solomon Islands, has been nominated and included on the World Heritage list," said Kemp.

East Rennell is the largest example on Earth of a raised atoll. Rennell also has the largest freshwater lake, Te Nggano, in the Pacific, a unique habitat for many species of plants, birds and animals native to the island that are found nowhere else on Earth.

Australia has already provided expertise and financial assistance for heritage protection and identification projects in Vanuatu and Samoa. The new agreement will provide a framework under which Australia can help develop expertise and management plans in the region.

"Australia is already making available its world class management experience. The Wet Tropics Management Authority is helping Indonesia develop a comprehensive management plan and train staff to protect the recently listed Lorentz National Park in Irian Jaya, Indonesia on the island of New Guinea.

Australian Environment Minister Dr. David Kemp (Photo courtesy Office of the Minister)

Located at the meeting point of two colliding continental plates, Lorentz National Park has a complex geology with ongoing mountain formation as well as major sculpting by glaciation. The area also contains fossil sites which provide evidence of the evolution of life on New Guinea, a high level of endemism and the highest level of biodiversity in the region.

"These sites are important not only to the countries in which they are situated, but also to the global community. The Howard Government is pleased to be contributing to the protection of these sites outside our national boundaries so that current and future generations of Australians are be able to experience them and know that these unique places are properly protected," Dr. Kemp said.