Preserving Murujuga: World Heritage Status and Economic Tensions

The Murujuga rock art in Australia has gained World Heritage status, aiming to preserve ancient Indigenous carvings from industrial encroachment, according to a government announcement on Saturday. This art, believed to be 50,000 years old, is located on a peninsula with active gas and explosives plants, highlighting tension between cultural preservation and resource-driven economic activities.

UNESCO granted this status on Friday following a "tireless nomination process" initiated in 2023, as stated by Environment Minister Murray Watt. He emphasized the government's dedication to protecting First Nations cultural heritage for future generations. Peter Hicks, leader of the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation, recognized the designation as essential for safeguarding the "extraordinary landscape."

In contrast, industrial activities continue to expand in the region. The government has prolonged the operation of Woodside's significant gas plant, the North West Shelf, until 2070, raising potential carbon emission concerns. The intensifying scrutiny over resource industry impacts comes after Rio Tinto's irreversible damage to Indigenous sites in 2020.

(With inputs from agencies.)