Australia’s ancient rock art is under threat, with experts warning that half of the country’s ancient rock paintings – some dating back as far as 30,000 years – could be gone within half a century.

There are an estimated 100,000 rock art sites in Australia, but the country has no central register documenting the art and preservation is up to the various institutions managing it, with no set protection strategy. The ancient art faces a range of threats including weather, feral animals and human interference.

“France and Spain spend vast amounts of money conserving their rock art, even China is spending millions and putting in a world heritage application for rock art that is 2,000 years old,” said Professor Paul Taçon – a Canadian researcher who has studied rock art since 1981 – speaking to The Guardian.

“In Australia there is almost no money for that kind of work and it’s really difficult to get the funding to keep these areas for future generations.”

Famous rock art sites such as the Quinkan galleries – the largest collection of rock art in the world, stretching across 888sq m (2,300sq km) of sandstone in the Australian outback – are also popular with mining companies because they house rare minerals such as diamonds and large deposits of coal.

A new zoning plan from the Australian government fails to help matters, as its new Cape York proposal has divided vast open areas of Queensland for the development of mining and agriculture. While some zones are being protected, many rock paintings still fall into the new development zones and would have no protection under the new regulations.

“The Quinkan galleries are outstanding and clearly of world heritage value,” said Taçon. “But we need a national strategy for rock art or it could be lost, especially if the government goes ahead with the development of northern Australia. There just seems to be a lack of will.”