Brief synthesis
As the world’s most extensive coral reef
ecosystem, the Great Barrier Reef is a globally outstanding and
significant entity. Practically the entire ecosystem was inscribed as
World Heritage in 1981, covering an area of 348,000 square kilometres
and extending across a contiguous latitudinal range of 14o (10oS to 24oS).
The Great Barrier Reef (hereafter referred to as GBR) includes
extensive cross-shelf diversity, stretching from the low water mark
along the mainland coast up to 250 kilometres offshore. This wide depth
range includes vast shallow inshore areas, mid-shelf and outer reefs,
and beyond the continental shelf to oceanic waters over 2,000 metres
deep.
Within the GBR there are some 2,500
individual reefs of varying sizes and shapes, and over 900 islands,
ranging from small sandy cays and larger vegetated cays, to large rugged
continental islands rising, in one instance, over 1,100 metres above
sea level. Collectively these landscapes and seascapes provide some of
the most spectacular maritime scenery in the world.
The latitudinal and cross-shelf
diversity, combined with diversity through the depths of the water
column, encompasses a globally unique array of ecological communities,
habitats and species. This diversity of species and habitats, and their
interconnectivity, make the GBR one of the richest and most complex
natural ecosystems on earth. There are over 1,500 species of fish, about
400 species of coral, 4,000 species of mollusk, and some 240 species of
birds, plus a great diversity of sponges, anemones, marine worms,
crustaceans, and other species. No other World Heritage property
contains such biodiversity. This diversity, especially the endemic
species, means the GBR is of enormous scientific and intrinsic
importance, and it also contains a significant number of threatened
species. Attime of inscription, the IUCN evaluation stated "… if only
one coral reef site in the world were to be chosen for the World
Heritage List, the Great Barrier Reef is the site to be chosen".
Criterion (vii): The
GBR is of superlative natural beauty above and below the water, and
provides some of the most spectacular scenery on earth. It is one of a
few living structures visible from space, appearing as a complex string
of reefal structures along Australia's northeast coast.
From the air, the vast mosaic patterns
of reefs, islands and coral cays produce an unparalleled aerial panorama
of seascapes comprising diverse shapes and sizes. The Whitsunday
Islands provide a magnificent vista of green vegetated islands and
spectacular sandy beaches spread over azure waters. This contrasts with
the vast mangrove forests in Hinchinbrook Channel, and the rugged
vegetated mountains and lush rainforest gullies that are periodically
cloud-covered on Hinchinbrook Island.
On many of the cays there are
spectacular and globally important breeding colonies of seabirds and
marine turtles, and Raine Island is the world’s largest green turtle
breeding area. On some continental islands, large aggregations of
over-wintering butterflies periodically occur.
Beneath the ocean surface, there is an
abundance and diversity of shapes, sizes and colours; for example,
spectacular coral assemblages of hard and soft corals, and thousands of
species of reef fish provide a myriad of brilliant colours, shapes and
sizes. The internationally renowned Cod Hole near Lizard Island is one
of many significant tourist attractions. Other superlative natural
phenomena include the annual coral spawning, migrating whales, nesting
turtles, and significant spawning aggregations of many fish species.
Criterion (viii): The
GBR, extending 2,000 kilometres along Queensland's coast, is a globally
outstanding example of an ecosystem that has evolved over millennia.
The area has been exposed and flooded by at least four glacial and
interglacial cycles, and over the past 15,000 years reefs have grown on
the continental shelf.
During glacial periods, sea levels
dropped, exposing the reefs as flat-topped hills of eroded limestone.
Large rivers meandered between these hills and the coastline extended
further east. During interglacial periods, rising sea levels caused the
formation of continental islands, coral cays and new phases of coral
growth. This environmental history can be seen in cores of old massive
corals.
Today the GBR forms the world’s largest
coral reef ecosystem, ranging from inshore fringing reefs to mid-shelf
reefs, and exposed outer reefs, including examples of all stages of reef
development. The processes of geological and geomorphological evolution
are well represented, linking continental islands, coral cays and
reefs. The varied seascapes and landscapes that occur today have been
moulded by changing climates and sea levels, and the erosive power of
wind and water, over long time periods.
One-third of the GBR lies beyond the
seaward edge of the shallower reefs; this area comprises continental
slope and deep oceanic waters and abyssal plains.
Criterion (ix): The
globally significant diversity of reef and island morphologies reflects
ongoing geomorphic, oceanographic and environmental processes. The
complex cross-shelf, longshore and vertical connectivity is influenced
by dynamic oceanic currents and ongoing ecological processes such as
upwellings, larval dispersal and migration.
Ongoing erosion and accretion of coral
reefs, sand banks and coral cays combine with similar processes along
the coast and around continental islands. Extensive beds of Halimeda algae represent active calcification and accretion over thousands of years.
Biologically the unique diversity of the
GBR reflects the maturity of an ecosystem that has evolved over
millennia; evidence exists for the evolution of hard corals and other
fauna. Globally significant marine faunal groups include over 4,000
species of molluscs, over 1,500 species of fish, plus a great diversity
of sponges, anemones, marine worms, crustaceans, and many others. The
establishment of vegetation on the cays and continental islands
exemplifies the important role of birds, such as the Pied Imperial
Pigeon, in processes such as seed dispersal and plant colonisation.
Human interaction with the natural
environment is illustrated by strong ongoing links between Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islanders and their sea-country, and includes numerous
shell deposits (middens) and fish traps, plus the application of story
places and marine totems.
Criterion (x): The
enormous size and diversity of the GBR means it is one of the richest
and most complex natural ecosystems on earth, and one of the most
significant for biodiversity conservation. The amazing diversity
supports tens of thousands of marine and terrestrial species, many of
which are of global conservation significance.
As the world's most complex expanse of
coral reefs, the reefs contain some 400 species of corals in 60 genera.
There are also large ecologically important inter-reefal areas. The
shallower marine areas support half the world's diversity of mangroves
and many seagrass species. The waters also provide major feeding grounds
for one of the world's largest populations of the threatened dugong. At
least 30 species of whales and dolphins occur here, and it is a
significant area for humpback whale calving.
Six of the world’s seven species of
marine turtle occur in the GBR. As well as the world’s largest green
turtle breeding site at Raine Island, the GBR also includes many
regionally important marine turtle rookeries.
Some 242 species of birds have been
recorded in the GBR. Twenty-two seabird species breed on cays and some
continental islands, and some of these breeding sites are globally
significant; other seabird species also utilize the area. The
continental islands support thousands of plant species, while the coral
cays also have their own distinct flora and fauna.
Integrity
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.
Protection and management requirements
The GBR covers approximately 348,000
square kilometres. Most of the property lies within the GBR Marine
Park: at 344,400 square kilometres, this Federal Marine Park comprises
approximately 99% of the property. 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 900 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. The Great Barrier Reef
Marine Park Authority, an independent Australian Government agency, is
responsible for protection and management of the GBR Marine Park. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975
was amended in 2007 and 2008, and now provides for “the long term
protection and conservation ... of the Great Barrier Reef Region” with
specific mention of meeting "... Australia's responsibilities under the
World Heritage Convention".
Queensland is responsible for management of the Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park, established under the Marine Parks Act 2004
(Qld). 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. Other Queensland and Federal legislation also protects the
property’s Outstanding Universal Value addressing such matters as water
quality, shipping management, sea dumping, fisheries management and
environmental protection.
The Federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
(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. A recent
amendment to the EPBC Act makes the GBR Marine Park an additional
'trigger' for a matter of National Environmental Significance which
provides additional protection for the values within the GBR.
The GBR Marine Park and the adjoining
GBR Coast Marine Park are zoned to allow for a wide range of reasonable
uses while ensuring overall protection, with conservation being the
primary aim. The zoning spectrum provides for increasing levels of
protection for the 'core conservation areas' which comprise the 115,000
square kilometres of ‘no-take’ and ‘no-entry’ zones within the GBR.
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). These statutory instruments
also protect the Outstanding Universal Value of the property.
Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island
peoples undertake traditional use of marine resource activities to
provide traditional food, practice their living maritime culture, and to
educate younger generations about traditional and cultural rules and
protocols. In the GBR these activities are managed under both Federal
and Queensland legislation and policies including Traditional Use of
Marine Resource Agreements (TUMRAs) and Indigenous Land Use Agreements
(ILUAs). These currently cover some 30 per cent of the GBR inshore
area, and support Traditional Owners to maintain cultural connections
with their sea country.
Similarly non-statutory tools like site
management and Industry Codes of Practice contribute to the protection
of World Heritage values. Some spatial management tools are not
permanently in place nor appear as part of the zoning, yet achieve
effective protection for elements of biodiversity (e.g. the temporal
closures that are legislated across the GBR prohibit all reef fishing
during specific moon phases when reef fish are spawning).
Other key initiatives providing increased protection for the GBR include thecomprehensive Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report (and its resulting 5-yearly reporting process); the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan; the GBR Climate Change Action Plan; and the Reef Guardians Stewardship Programs
which involve building relationships and working closely with those who
use and rely on the GBR or its catchment for their recreation or their
business.
The 2009 Outlook Report identified the
long-term challenges facing the GBR; these are dominated by climate
change over the next few decades. The extent and persistence of damage
to the GBR ecosystem will depend to a large degree on the amount of
change in the world’s climate and on the resilience of the GBR ecosystem
to such change. This report also identified continued declining water
quality from land-based sources, loss of coastal habitats from coastal
development, and some impacts from fishing, illegal fishing and poaching
as the other priority issues requiring management attention for the
long-term protection of the GBR.
Emerging issues since the 2009 Outlook
Report include proposed port expansions, increases in shipping activity,
coastal development and intensification and changes in land use within
the GBR catchment; population growth; the impacts from marine debris;
illegal activities; and extreme weather events including floods and
cyclones.
Further building the resilience of the
GBR by improving water quality, reducing the loss of coastal habitats
and increasing knowledge about fishing and its effects and encouraging
modified practices, will give the GBR its best chance of adapting to and
recovering from the threats ahead, including the impacts of a changing
climate.
Long Description
The Great Barrier Reef is a site of remarkable variety and
beauty on the north-east coast of Australia. It the world's most
extensive stretch of coral reef and is probably the richest area in
terms of faunal diversity in the world. Its great diversity reflects the
maturity of an ecosystem which has evolved over millions of years on
the north-east continental shelf of Australia. The site contains a huge
diversity of species including over 1,500 species of fish, about 360
species of hard coral, 5,000 species of mollusc, and more than 175
species of bird, plus a great diversity of sponges, anemones, marine
worms and crustaceans, among others.
The reef system, extending to Papua New Guinea, the reef comprises
some 2900 individual reefs of all sizes and shapes covering more than
20,000 km2, including 760 fringing reefs, which range in size
from under 1ha to over 10,000 ha and vary in shape to provide the most
spectacular marine scenery on Earth. There are approximately 600
continental islands including many with towering forests and freshwater
streams, and some 300 coral cays and unvegetated sand cays. A rich
variety of landscapes and seascapes, including rugged mountains with
dense and diverse vegetation and adjacent fringing reefs, provide
spectacular scenery.
The form and structure of the individual reefs show great variety.
Two main classes may be defined: platform or patch reefs, resulting from
radial growth; and wall reefs, resulting from elongated growth, often
in areas of strong water currents. There are also many fringing reefs
where the reef growth is established on subtidal rock of the mainland
coast or continental islands.
The site includes major feeding grounds for the endangered dugong and
nesting grounds of world significance for two endangered species of
marine turtle, the green and the loggerhead, as well as habitat for four
other species of marine turtle; given the severe pressures being placed
on these species elsewhere, the Great Barrier Reef may be their last
secure stronghold. It is also an important breeding area for humpback
and other whale species.
A wide range of fleshy algae occurs, many of which are small and
inconspicuous but which are highly productive and are heavily grazed by
turtles, fish, molluscs and sea urchins. In addition, algae are an
important component of reef building processes. 15 species of seagrass
grow throughout the reef area forming over 3,000 km2 of seagrass meadows and providing an important food source for grazing animals, such as dugongs.
The Great Barrier Reef, and in particular the northern sector, is
important in the historic and contemporary culture of the Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander groups of the coastal areas of north-east
Australia. This contemporary use of and association with the Marine Park
plays an important role in the maintenance of their cultures and there
is a strong spiritual connection with the ocean and its inhabitants.
Source: UNESCO/CLT/WHC
