World Heritage significance

Covering nearly 20,000 square kilometres, Kakadu is one of very few places World Heritage listed for both its cultural and its natural values. Its enduring natural values stem from its exceptional beauty and unique biodiversity, its variety of landforms, habitats and wildlife. The protection and conservation of biodiversity is an important part of the management of this special place.

Preserving natural and cultural heritage.

Kakadu is a living cultural landscape. Generations of Bininj/Mungguy have lived on and cared for this country for tens of thousands of years. Their spiritual connection with the land was globally recognised when Kakadu was first placed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. This is an international register of properties recognised as having outstanding cultural or natural values of significance. Kakadu was listed in three stages: Stage 1 in 1981, Stage 2 in 1987 and the entire Park in 1992.

The World heritage emblem symbolises the interdependence of cultural and natural properties: the central square is a form created by people and the circle represents nature, the two being intimately linked.