The United Nations has called for a pause on development in Tasmania's World Wilderness Heritage Area (TWWHA), raising concerns around the thoroughness of cultural assessments.
But the Liberal state government says the draft decision by UNESCO's World Heritage Committee is misinformed and an overreach.
The heritage committee has urged government to "avoid any development" in the wilderness area until a detailed, comprehensive cultural assessment is implemented.
"It is of great importance to conclude this process before any further development (e.g. tourism development) takes place at the property," the decision reads.
The committee has also reminded governments of the importance of carrying out impact assessments and submitting them to the World Heritage Centre for review.
"The concern and reference in the draft decision regarding development in the TWWHA we believe isn't informed," Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein told state parliament on Wednesday.
"The government believes (it) is an overreach of the World Heritage Committee's role.
"The government believes this direction needs to be corrected and is seeking clarification, (and) will also be providing a recommendation in respect to an appropriate alternative position."
The World Heritage Committee is expected to finalise its decision in July.
Proposed wilderness tourism developments in Tasmania, including a fly-in-fly-out eco-tourism camp at Lake Malbena, have drawn criticism from green groups.
Wilderness Society Tasmania says it makes sense for a moratorium to be in place on TWWHA tourism development until an Aboriginal cultural values survey can be completed.
Spokesman Tom Allen warns further privatisation and development in the TWWHA could see it join the Great Barrier Reef on the world heritage in-danger list.
"The Gutwein government has a development-at-any-cost approach and its talk about conservation and 'sensitive development' is essentially meaningless," he said.
UNESCO said 2018-19 bushfires that destroyed sensitive vegetation caused "serious concern" but noted the government's fire management plan response was welcomed and should be sustained.
Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley has been contacted for comment.
Australian Associated Press
