Te Waahipounamu: South-west New Zealand World Heritage Area. Ecological research and conservation history

This paper reviews the research which documented the nature conservation an d ecological features and values that justified the initial promotion (by F orest and Bird Protection Society in 1987), the subsequent nomination (by t he Government in 1989), and the eventual acceptance (by the World Conservat ion Union in 1991), of the 2.6 million ha South-west New Zealand World Heri tage Area. The incorporation of four established national parks (Westland, Mount Cook, Mount Aspiring and Fiordland) with the intervening Crown-owned land embracing rainforest, wetlands and tussock grasslands, into the world heritage area, is also explained. Subsequent development of a range of recreational and visitor facilities al ong the highway traversing the 311 000 ha of previous State forest land in South Westland is also described, together with the visitor statistics whic h indicate the initial positive response to the elevated conservation statu s of the region.