Reef Environment

Reef Environment | Potential Threats | Best Environmental Practices |

Conservation, Biodiversity and World Heritage

Green Island

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is responsible for managing the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and World Heritage Area. It does this in a variety of ways, for example, by working on species conservation, particularly the protection of threatened species such as dugongs, turtles, whales and dolphins.  It also undertakes scientific research aimed at describing the biodiversity of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and identifying areas for preservation.

The Authority is one of several agencies involved in conservation programs for threatened species. In recent years, the conservation of dugongs, turtles and whales has been given priority. There is now a strong inter-agency approach to the management of these species, together with continuous assessment of their status and management.

The following sections explore some of the potential threats to the Great Barrier Reef, and ways in which problems can be avoided.

The State of the Great Barrier Reef On-line is now available
for download in in PDF format. The Report is essentially
GBRMPA's "report card" on the condition of the Great Barrier
Reef, the pressures it faces and the responses made by
managing agencies to deal with these pressures. 

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