references
GREAT BARRIER REEF
// Outlook Report 2014
11
The Region’s ecosystem and heritage values are considered, plus their links to economic and social values
1.7 Developing the report
The report has been prepared by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. A number of Australian and Queensland government agencies and researchers from a range of institutions directly contributed to its development. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s 12 Local Marine Advisory Committees (committees based in regional centres along the coast); industry representatives; local government councils and schools participating in the Reef Guardian program; and other stakeholders supported the report’s preparation in various ways. In particular, advice provided during development of the draft strategic assessment report3 and comments received on the draft report have subsequently informed this report. The outcomes of a consensus workshop9 involving about 35 Reef scientists contributed to the assessments of biodiversity and ecosystem health. The outcomes also informed the assessment of risk. The consensus workshop was modelled on those undertaken during development of the 2011 Australian state of the environment report10. Four independent experts in protected area management, monitoring and evaluation, public policy and governance independently assessed the effectiveness of existing protection and management arrangements for the Region’s ecosystem and its heritage values. The assessment included identifying any gaps or deficiencies and a comparative analysis with the 2009 assessment. The assessors’ report11 forms the basis of the assessment of existing measures to protect and manage the Region (Chapter 7). Finally, four reviewers appointed by the Minister for the Environment independently reviewed the draft Outlook Report. These reviewers are recognised national and international experts with biophysical, heritage and/or socioeconomic expertise and achievements, including conducting high level policy and scientific reviews. Their comments were considered and incorporated where appropriate in finalising the report.
Producing an Outlook Report draws on the expertise and assistance of many people.