Adaptive management of the Great Barrier Reef

In response to increasing pressures triggered by proposed port expansions, and declining ecosystem condition, comprehensive Strategic Assessments of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA) and the adjacent coastal... [ view full abstract ]

In response to increasing pressures triggered by proposed port expansions, and declining ecosystem condition, comprehensive Strategic Assessments of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA) and the adjacent coastal strip were undertaken. The findings of these assessments and the 2014 Outlook Report led to a re-evaluation of management and the development of a plan to draw existing and new reef management approaches together to ensure greater coordination, efficiency and effectiveness across government, industries and communities. Over the next 35 years, this framework is intended to provide for the adaptive management of cumulative impacts.
The Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan (Reef2050 Plan) is built around an outcomes framework linking actions to targets, objectives, outcomes and a vision for the GBRWHA. It considers, biophysical, social, economic and heritage values and the factors that influence them. The plan applies to the whole Great Barrier Reef and coastal areas that are connected to and influence the health of the reef, and is to be scaled from GBR–wide to regional and local scales. Translating the plan to smaller scales will be achieved through the Reef Recovery program which will link actions in the WHA to catchment actions including Water Quality Improvement Plans.
Critical to the success of the Reef2050 Plan are targets which allow progress to be measured and effectiveness of management actions assessed. Desired states for values and conditions required to maintain these values including thresholds of ecosystem health are being developed and will further refine targets already in the plan.
An integrated monitoring and reporting program will track progress towards Reef2050 Plan targets and objectives. This program will inform reporting, review and evaluation of the plan every five years through the Outlook Report. Future outlook reports will report on management effectiveness in a more quantitative way to inform adaptive management of cumulative impacts.