The Great Barrier Reef consists of about 3, individual reefs of coral, and the biodiversity they contain is remarkable. There are animals you would probably recognize, such as dolphins, turtles, crocodiles, and sharks. There are also venomous sea snakes, brightly colored worms, and large algae. These species interact to form a complex and delicate ecosystem dependent on the coral reef for survival.
Yet today the coral—and therefore all the organisms that depend on it—is gravely at risk. Coral is made up of many small animals. These tiny animals build a hard external skeleton to make the vibrant structures that we recognize. When healthy, coral has a symbiotic relationship with algae. The coral produces fluorescent chemicals that protect the algae from bright sun—almost like a sunscreen.
The algae use photosynthesis to harness solar energy to make sugars. In this way, the algae provide food and oxygen a byproduct of photosynthesis for the coral, and the coral protects and provides nutrients for the algae.
The algae also give coral its many colors. The coral and algae have evolved together to survive within a particular temperature range. As sea temperatures rise due to climate change , the algae begin to produce products toxic to the coral, which in turn expel the algae.
This process is called bleaching because the coral becomes white. A study showed that about one-third of the Great Barrier Reef had experienced substantial damage from bleaching. The researchers also found that large amounts of coral had died in the warming water almost immediately—even before there was time to expel their algal partners. This suggests even greater risks from climate change than scientists had previously thought.
Climate change is not the only threat to the reef. Chemical runoff and other forms of pollution , coastal development, and overfishing all can harm coral and reduce biodiversity. So can large storms such as cyclones. Climate tracking Some structures of the reef could be millions of years old! Corals have been slowly depositing limestone over the years and these rocky formations are like time capsules.
Recording weather patterns and coral growth. Scientists can study ancient rock samples to track important climatic events over the past thousands of years and track the current state of global warming. In the meantime, everyone can do their part to combat global warming and hopefully, we can save our fantastic reef! Why is the Great Barrier Reef so important? Reefs protect coastlines Coral reefs form barriers for coastlines, acting as a buffer from the waves and storms that come in from the open ocean.
Purification of the water Most corals are filter feeders, taking the impurities from the sea and leaving behind clear, healthier waters. Your support can help save endangered Reef animals, find solutions to major threats and enable vital research.
The economic, social and icon value of the Great Barrier Reef This report assesses the economic, social, icon and brand value of the Great Barrier Reef. Economic contribution of the Reef. Annual contribution. Annual employment. Total economic, social and icon value to Australia. The ecological integrity of the GBR is enhanced by the unparalleled size and current good state of conservation across the property.
At the time of inscription it was felt that to include virtually the entire Great Barrier Reef within the property was the only way to ensure the integrity of the coral reef ecosystems in all their diversity.
A number of natural pressures occur, including cyclones, crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks, and sudden large influxes of freshwater from extreme weather events. As well there is a range of human uses such as tourism, shipping and coastal developments including ports.
There are also some disturbances facing the GBR that are legacies of past actions prior to the inscription of the property on the World Heritage list. At the scale of the GBR ecosystem, most habitats or species groups have the capacity to recover from disturbance or withstand ongoing pressures. The property is largely intact and includes the fullest possible representation of marine ecological, physical and chemical processes from the coast to the deep abyssal waters enabling the key interdependent elements to exist in their natural relationships.
Some of the key ecological, physical and chemical processes that are essential for the long-term conservation of the marine and island ecosystems and their associated biodiversity occur outside the boundaries of the property and thus effective conservation programs are essential across the adjoining catchments, marine and coastal zones.
The GBR covers approximately , square kilometres. The GBR Marine Park's legal jurisdiction ends at low water mark along the mainland with the exception of port areas and around islands with the exception of 70 Commonwealth managed islands which are part of the Marine Park.
In addition the GBR also includes over islands within the jurisdiction of Queensland, about half of which are declared as 'national parks', and the internal waters of Queensland that occur within the World Heritage boundary including a number of long-established port areas. The World Heritage property is and has always been managed as a multiple-use area. Uses include a range of commercial and recreational activities. The management of such a large and iconic world heritage property is made more complex due to the overlapping State and Federal jurisdictions.
Australia's responsibilities under the World Heritage Convention". This is contiguous with the GBR Marine Park and covers the area between low and high water marks and many of the waters within the jurisdictional limits of Queensland.
Queensland is also responsible for management of most of the islands. The overlapping jurisdictional arrangements mean that the importance of complementary legislation and complementary management of islands and the surrounding waters is well recognised by both governments. Strong cooperative partnerships and formal agreements exist between the Australian Government and the Queensland Government. In addition, strong relationships have been built between governments and commercial and recreational industries, research institutions and universities.
Collectively this provides a comprehensive management influence over a much wider context than just the marine areas and islands. Development and land use activities in coastal and water catchments adjacent to the property also have a fundamental and critical influence on the values within the property.
The Queensland Government is responsible for natural resource management and land use planning for the islands, coast and hinterland adjacent to the GBR. The Federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act EPBC Act provides an overarching mechanism for protecting the World Heritage values from inappropriate development, including actions taken inside or outside which could impact on its heritage values. This requires any development proposals to undergo rigorous environmental impact assessment processes, often including public consultation, after which the Federal Minister may decide, to approve, reject or approve under conditions designed to mitigate any significant impacts.
While the Zoning Plan is the 'cornerstone' of management and provides a spatial basis for determining where many activities can occur, zoning is only one of many spatial management tools and policies applied to collectively protect the GBR.
Some activities are better managed using other spatial and temporal management tools like Plans of Management, Special Management Areas, Agreements with Traditional Owners and permits often tied to specific zones or smaller areas within zones, but providing a detailed level of management not possible by zoning alone.
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