Some of Australia's largest conservation groups have lodged a bid for emergency heritage listing for Tasmania's Tarkine wilderness to thwart a $23 million tourist road.

The Tarkine National Coalition lodged the nomination with the Federal Environment Department yesterday with the backing of the World Wildlife Fund, the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Wilderness Society.

The Federal Environment Minister is currently assessing road plan and while heritage listing would not necessarily stop it, the ACF's Lindsay Hesketh says it will mean tougher approval guidelines.

"There are now threatened species and vulnerable species, including the Tasmanian devil of course, which would be considerably impacted on by proposals in the region."

"So the listing is important to give recognition of the values of the Tarkine region."

"It's highlighting the fact that this is a globally important asset."

There is no fixed deadline for the minister to respond.