Tuesday August 31 2004

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority was recently awarded a prestigious ‘Eureka Prize for Biodiversity Research’ for its new Zoning Plan that provides greater protection for the range of plants and animals on the Reef. This is Australia's most important award for biodiversity research, and adds to the growing list of accolades for the new Plan.

GBRMPA Director of Conservation, Biodiversity and World Heritage, Jon Day, said the award was especially pleasing as it recognised the scientific merit of the new Zoning Plan, as well as its contribution to biodiversity research and protection.

“Given the hard work so many people inside GBRMPA, and from other agencies and organisations, put in to develop the Zoning Plan, it’s great to have all their efforts recognised by Australian scientists through this Eureka Prize”, said Mr Day.

“Developing the plan was both complex and demanding, but it has set a new benchmark for marine protected area planning, and so everyone who was involved is proud of their contribution”, he said.

The Botanic Gardens Trust Eureka Prize for Biodiversity Research is awarded to an Australian individual, team or organisation for innovative scientific research that makes an outstanding contribution to the conservation of Australia's biodiversity.

On 1 July this year, the new zoning for the Great Barrier Reef came into force as the largest network of Marine Protected Areas in the world. The zoning improves protection of the Reef and increases 'no-take' zones from 4.6 per cent to 33 per cent of the Marine Park across all 70 broad habitat types (or bioregions).

The zoning program was also recently recognised by the Queensland Regional Heads Forum (a forum of all Australian Government agencies in Queensland) and presented with the 2004 ‘Award for Excellence in Public Sector Management’.