Editing Southwest National Park (section)

===National Park Status===
The core of the national park, an area of {{convert|239|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} surrounding [[Lake Pedder]] was first created in 1955, and called the [[Lake Pedder National Park]].<ref name=gov>{{cite web|url=https://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/Documents/Southwest%20National%20Park%20-%20Reservation%20History.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528215741/http://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/Documents/Southwest%20National%20Park%20-%20Reservation%20History.pdf |archive-date=2018-05-28 |url-status=live |publisher=Tasmanian Government |title=Southwest National Park Reservation History}}</ref> It was a glacial outwash lake, which hosted numerous endemic species including the [[Lake Pedder earthworm]] and [[Pedder galaxias]]. Lake Pedder was famous among bushwalkers for its majesty and unique pink quartz sand. Dr Peter Hay reflected, "Had it still existed, it would have the same sort of status in Australian mythology as other landscape icons like Uluru and Kakadu and the Great Barrier Reef."<ref name=abc>{{cite web |url = http://www.abc.net.au/science/kelvin/files/s18.htm |publisher=ABC |title = Lake Pedder }}</ref>

In 1968 the Tasmanian Government expanded the area to {{convert|1916|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, renaming it the Southwest National Park.<ref name=gov/> However, it was actually as scenic reserve, with protections removed so that the area could form a catchment of the Tasmanian Hydro Electric Commissions (HEC) Upper Gordon River hydro-electric generation scheme. The aim was to increase Tasmania's capacity to generate hydro-electricity, and attract secondary industry with the incentive of cheap renewable energy.<ref name=abc/> The original Lake Pedder was controversially flooded in 1972, with the issue attracting attention of environmentalist groups around the state as they unsuccessfully opposed the dam. They later reformed, and successfully halted the [[Franklin River Dam]], the first success of the greens movement in Australia.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.utas.edu.au/library/companion_to_tasmanian_history/L/Lake%20Pedder.htm |publisher=Centre for Tasmanian Historical Studies |title=Lake Pedder |author=Lynn Davis |access-date=23 January 2019 }}</ref>

In 1976 the national park was extended towards southwest and incorporated most of the Port Davey State Reserve, and continued to expand until it reached its present size in 2000.<ref name=gov/>

[[File:Lake Pedder From Mt Eliza.jpg|thumb|800px|center|The new Lake Pedder from Mount Eliza, Southwest National Park, Australia]]

The Southwest National Park was a [[biosphere reserve]] under the United Nations Biosphere Program from 1977 until its withdrawal from the program in 2002.<ref name=unesco>{{Cite web |url = http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/biosphere-reserves/withdrawal-of-biosphere-reserves/ |title= Biosphere reserves withdrawn from the World Network of Biosphere reserves |work=Man and the Biosphere Programme |publisher=UNESCO |access-date=5 November 2016 }}</ref>  Its designation as a biosphere reserve was due to the important world heritage values and human use values it contained.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}  Some of these values included being a key breeding zone for the critically endangered [[Orange-bellied parrot]], remnants of Aboriginal occupation and other historic heritage sites such as the Melaleuca – Port Davey Area Plan (Tasmania Parks and Wildlife 2003, p 2).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/indeX.aspX?base=7150|title=Melaleuca-Port Davey Area Plan|last=|first=|date=2003|website=Melaleuca-Port Davey Area Plan|publisher=Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service|access-date=10 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515051737/http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/indeX.aspX?base=7150|archive-date=15 May 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> This was followed by a World Heritage listing in 1982 which was then expanded to its current size.
[[File:Dracophyllum milliganii 7519.jpg|thumb|''[[Dracophyllum milliganii]]'']]