Ruqayyah Snyder
The Great Barrier Reef, a natural wonder and one of Australia's most valuable assets, is under threat from climate change, poor water quality, and destructive fishing practices. Recognising the urgency to protect the reef, the Australian government has committed billions of dollars in funding to safeguard this precious ecosystem. This includes initiatives to improve water quality, reduce the impact of fishing, and enhance the resilience of the reef in the face of climate change. UNESCO has also played a pivotal role in advocating for the reef's preservation, with its World Heritage Marine Program recognising the site as one of 50 protected ocean sites worldwide. Despite some criticism of the Australian government's response, there is ongoing commitment and progress towards ensuring the reef's longevity for future generations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Funding | The Australian government has pledged $1bn for conservation and science to be spent over nine years. This is in addition to state and federal government commitments of around $3bn since 2014. |
| Climate Change Action | The government is taking increased action on climate change, including investing in initiatives to protect and build the resilience of the reef. |
| Reef 2050 Plan | Australia's overarching framework for protecting and managing the Great Barrier Reef, with 5 priority areas for action. |
| Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Control | The government's $1.2bn Reef Protection package includes $161,424,000 to expand the Crown-of-Thorns control program over nine years. |
| Tourism Industry Support | The government's funding boost will enable tourism operators to continue reef monitoring and conservation work, while also securing critical jobs in the industry. |
| Research and Development | $100m of the GBRF’s grant has gone to R&D projects, including at CSIRO and the Australian Institute of Marine Science. |
| Indigenous Partnerships | The Australian Coral Reef Resilience Initiative (ACRRI) builds meaningful partnerships with Traditional Owners of sea country in northern Australia. |
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What You'll Learn
- The Australian government has committed $2.9 billion to safeguarding the Great Barrier Reef
- The Reef 2050 Plan is a framework to protect and manage the reef until 2050
- The government is taking action on climate change and funding initiatives to build the reef's long-term resilience
- The Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Control Program is a key tool to protect coral and support reef resilience
- The government is working with UNESCO to implement recommendations to save the reef
The Australian government has committed $2.9 billion to safeguarding the Great Barrier Reef
Climate change is the biggest threat to the Great Barrier Reef, and the Australian government has committed to greater emissions reductions to address this issue. They have set ambitious targets to reduce CO2 emissions, aiming for a 43% cut by 2030, in line with efforts to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5°C. These targets are informed by scientific research and are crucial for the survival of the reef, as coral ecosystems cannot tolerate warming beyond 1.5°C above pre-industrial temperatures.
To improve water quality, the government plans to significantly reduce pollutant discharges from farmers and industrialists and restore flora and fauna in drainage basins. This will help address the issue of pollution from agricultural operations, which has been identified as a significant threat to the reef.
The Australian government has also committed to banning destructive fishing practices, such as gillnet fishing, by 2027. Gillnet fishing is a highly destructive form of fishing that often catches vulnerable coral reef species, and banning it will help protect these species and reduce the impact of fishing on the reef. Additionally, the government plans to create no-fishing zones in a third of the World Heritage site by the end of 2024.
Another key intervention is the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Control Program, which aims to protect coral reefs by controlling the population of these starfish, a major cause of coral decline over the past 40 years. The program uses science-based evidence, dedicated vessels, professionally trained crews, and strategic surveillance and monitoring to target its efforts effectively.
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The Reef 2050 Plan is a framework to protect and manage the reef until 2050
The Reef 2050 Plan is a framework to protect and manage the Great Barrier Reef until 2050. It was developed by the Australian and Queensland governments in response to the World Heritage Committee's recommendation that Australia create a long-term plan to protect the Outstanding Universal Value of the Great Barrier Reef. The plan has five priority areas for action, with a focus on delivering coordinated local, national, and global action in key areas.
The Reef 2050 Plan is based on scientific research, analysis, and lessons learned over four decades of management. It is a flexible framework that is reviewed every five years to ensure it remains current and addresses emerging issues with the latest knowledge and science. The Australian Government has committed over $3.7 billion from 2014 to 2030 to support the plan, with an additional $1.2 billion invested until 2030 to accelerate actions.
The five priority areas for action under the Reef 2050 Plan include:
- Improving water quality: This includes reducing human-induced pollutant runoff and improving the quality of water flowing from Reef catchments to the Great Barrier Reef.
- Strengthening partnerships and stewardship: Building partnerships and fostering cooperation across various groups, including communities, Traditional Owners, scientists, industry experts, and land managers, is at the heart of the plan.
- Reducing fishing-related risks to protected and threatened species: This includes introducing net-free fishing zones and phasing out commercial gill-net fishing in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park to protect species such as dugongs and sea turtles.
- Strengthening management of the Reef: This includes enhancing the number of high-value coral reefs and tourism sites protected and controlling the crown-of-thorns starfish, a major cause of coral decline.
- Helping the Reef adapt to a changing climate: This includes accelerating the development of restoration and adaptation measures and empowering people to care for the Reef through strong partnerships.
The Australian and Queensland governments, along with their partners, are committed to protecting and managing the Great Barrier Reef through the implementation of the Reef 2050 Plan.
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The government is taking action on climate change and funding initiatives to build the reef's long-term resilience
The Australian government is taking action to address climate change and fund initiatives aimed at enhancing the long-term resilience of the Great Barrier Reef. Climate change is the greatest threat to the Great Barrier Reef and reefs worldwide. The Australian government has committed to taking increased action to combat climate change and protect the reef.
One key initiative is the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Control Program, which aims to minimise the impact of crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks, a major cause of coral decline. The Australian government has provided additional funding of $161,424,000 to expand this program over nine years, securing its future and enabling the protection of more high-value coral reefs and tourism sites.
The Australian Coral Reef Resilience Initiative (ACRRI) is another important program. This seven-year, AUD27 million research program is a partnership between the Australian Institute of Marine Science and BHP. ACRRI takes a ''whole-of-system' approach to reef restoration, combining research in coral re-seeding with healthy reef sounds to attract fish and enhance the resilience of coral reefs impacted by climate change. The initiative involves collaboration with Traditional Owners of sea country in northern Australia, bringing together two different knowledge systems to deliver impactful research.
Furthermore, the Australian government has made significant funding pledges for reef conservation and science, including a $1 billion commitment over nine years. This funding will be spread along the 2,300km reef and is in addition to state and federal government commitments totalling around $3 billion since 2014. The Queensland government has also invested in improving water quality, with commitments of $270 million from 2017 to 2022.
These actions demonstrate the Australian government's commitment to protecting and restoring the Great Barrier Reef, addressing the impacts of climate change, and ensuring its long-term resilience.
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The Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Control Program is a key tool to protect coral and support reef resilience
The Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Control Program is a collaborative effort involving the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre, government agencies, industry partners, and contractors. The program is designed to protect coral and support reef resilience by managing the population of crown-of-thorns starfish, a major predator of coral.
The Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Control Program uses a combination of data and modelling to identify and prioritize reefs based on their ecological and economic value. It takes into account real-time and historical reef-level crown-of-thorns populations, larval connectivity modelling, and observations from partners, contractors, and reef visitors. The program has identified 500 reefs to focus on for coral cover protection, targeting 200 to 250 of these reefs annually to control the starfish population.
The program employs dedicated vessels and professionally trained crews to conduct strategic surveillance, reef health surveys, and manual culling of the starfish. The control methods involve divers searching for the starfish and manually injecting them with bile salts or vinegar. This process is labour-intensive due to the cryptic nature of the starfish, which often remain hidden within the reef structure.
The Australian Government has provided significant funding for the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Control Program, allocating an additional $161,424,000 to expand the program over nine years. This funding ensures the future of the program and enables it to enhance the protection of high-value coral reefs and tourism sites across the Great Barrier Reef.
The Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Control Program is a critical tool in the management of the Great Barrier Reef, as it addresses one of the major causes of coral decline. By controlling the population of these starfish, the program supports coral growth and recovery, giving corals the best chance of survival against this voracious predator.
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The government is working with UNESCO to implement recommendations to save the reef
The Australian government is working closely with UNESCO to implement recommendations and protect the Great Barrier Reef, one of the country's national treasures. The government has committed significant funding to address the key threats facing the reef, including climate change, poor water quality, fishing impacts, and crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks.
One of the key initiatives is the Reef 2050 Plan, which outlines five priority areas for action, including improving water quality, strengthening partnerships, and reducing risks to protected and threatened species. The Australian government has invested more than $3.7 billion in this plan, with an additional $1.2 billion pledged until 2030.
To address the issue of crown-of-thorns starfish, a major cause of coral decline, the government has provided additional funding of $161,424,000 to expand the Crown-of-Thorns Control Program over nine years. This program aims to protect high-value coral reefs and tourism sites by controlling the starfish population through science-based evidence, dedicated vessels, and strategic surveillance.
The Australian Coral Reef Resilience Initiative (ACRRI) is another important collaboration with UNESCO. This seven-year, AUD27 million research program is a partnership between the Australian Institute of Marine Science and BHP. ACRRI takes a ''whole-of-system' approach to reef restoration, combining research in coral re-seeding and healthy reef sounds to attract fish and improve the resilience of coral reefs impacted by climate change.
Through these initiatives and partnerships, the Australian government is committed to ensuring the long-term health and resilience of the Great Barrier Reef, protecting it for future generations.
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Frequently asked questions
The Australian government has committed a total of $2.9 billion to new safeguarding measures for the Great Barrier Reef. This includes a $1.2 billion Reef Protection package, which provides additional funding to expand the Crown-of-Thorns Control Program. The government has also agreed to establish new policies to protect the reef, including a ban on some destructive fishing methods and compliance incentives for farmers to prevent synthetic fertilizers from flowing into waterways.
The Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Control Program is a key tool in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s management arsenal to protect coral cover and support reef resilience. The program uses science-based evidence, dedicated vessels, professionally-trained crews, and strategic surveillance and monitoring to target efforts and locations. Since 2012, the program has protected more than 335 coral reefs from the devastating impacts of coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish.
The international community, particularly UNESCO, has been putting pressure on the Australian government to do more to protect the Great Barrier Reef. In 2014, UNESCO first warned that an "in danger" listing was being considered for the reef. While the Australian government has successfully lobbied to delay this listing, UNESCO continues to call for more urgent action, with the latest report stating that the reef remains under "serious threat".
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