Outlook Online 2009

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority :: Criteria values and attributes for World Heritage listing

Criteria values and attributes for World Heritage listing

World Heritage criteria  Examples of values / attributes
(VII) - Exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance
  • Spectacular seascapes and landscapes for example, Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday islands, Hinchinbrook Island, mosaic patterns on reefs
  • Spectacular coral assemblages (hard and soft corals)
  • >1500 species of fish providing a myriad of colours, shapes and sizes.
(VIII) - Significant geomorphic or physiographic features
  • The world's largest coral reef ecosystem, extending over 14 degrees of latitudinal range about 3000 separate coral reefs, ranging from inshore fringing reefs to mid shelf, exposed outer reefs and deep water reefs and shoals
  • Deep water features of the adjoining continental shelf including canyons, channels, plateaux and slopes.
(IX) - Significant ongoing ecological and biological processes
  • An extensive diversity of reef morphologies and ongoing geomorphic processes
  • ~ 900 islands ranging from small coral cays (in various stages of geomorphic development) to large continental islands
  • Complex cross-shelf, longshore and vertical connectivity facilitated by dynamic current flows, incorporating important ecological processes such as larval dispersal
  • Breeding and spawning grounds for unique coral reef associated species, including threatened and vulnerable species such as turtles, whales and humphead Maori wrasse.
(X) - Significant natural habitat for in-situ conservation of biological diversity
  • Over 2000 km2 of mangroves including 54 per cent of the world's mangrove diversity
  • ~ 43 000 km2 of seagrass meadows in both shallow and deep water areas supporting one of the world's most important dugong populations and six of the world's seven species of marine turtle
  • 70 bioregions (broad-scale habitats) have been identified comprising 30 reef bioregions and 40 non-reefal bioregions, these include algal and sponge gardens, sandy and muddy bottom communities, continental slopes and deep ocean troughs
  • The reef bioregions contain one third of the world's soft coral and sea pen species (80 species)
  • 800 species of echinoderms (for example sea stars) equalling 13 per cent of the world's total species
  • The location of the world's largest green turtle breeding area, other key breeding areas, regionally important seabird nesting islands, significant spawning ground (for example black marlin) and a significant area for humpback whale calving and rearing.

 View a more comprehensive list of the values of the Great Barrier Reef Leave GBRMPA website

 

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