WET Tropics Aborigines fighting for world recognition of their culture have won the support of Federal Heritage and Environment Minister Peter Garrett.

Indigenous values of 18 Wet Tropics rainforest tribes from Townsville to Cooktown were priority-listed by Mr Garrett for inclusion on the National Heritage List, the first step towards the World Heritage list.

Yidinji traditional owner Henrietta Marrie, who chairs the Wet Tropics cultural heritage intellectual property committee, said rainforest tribes had been fighting for cultural recognition since the area was World Heritage-listed in the 1980s.

"It is only now that there’s been a breakthrough," Ms Marrie said.

"At last we’ve got the Government to the first stage of recognising its cultural values.

"This is the last bit of rainforest we have left in Australia where the indigenous people are still participating in its management."

The cultural values range from key sites such as sacred springs and waterholes, walking tracks and cave paintings, to stories, songs and dances depicting how the tribes traditionally lived in the rainforest.

The Aboriginal Rainforest Advisory Committee, which comes under the Wet Tropics Management Authority, took control of the listing process after the former Aboriginal Rainforest Council went into liquidation in April owing $100,000.

Ms Marrie said the recognition would give tribes "more clout" in how the Wet Tropics were managed.

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