The Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program is being used to track the progress of outcomes outlined in the Reef 2050 Plan, the Australian and Queensland governments’ long-term plan for Reef protection.
The aim of the monitoring program is to achieve ‘a coordinated and integrated monitoring, modelling and reporting framework for the Great Barrier Reef and its catchment.’
The Great Barrier Reef Ministerial Forum oversees the implementation of the Reef 2050 Plan, including this monitoring program.
Partners
The monitoring program is being coordinated by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, working with a range of partner organisations:
- Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)
- Australian Government Department of Defence
- Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy
- Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
- Cultural Systems Solutions
- Great Barrier Reef Foundation
- Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owners
- Integrated Marine Observing System
- James Cook University (JCU)
- Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science
- Queensland Government Department of the Premier and Cabinet
- Queensland Ports Association
- Queensland Seafood Industry Association
- Reef and Rainforest Research Centre (National Environmental Science Programme)
Steering group
The Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program steering group was established by the Great Barrier Reef Ministerial Forum in 2015 to provide advice on requirements for an effective integrated monitoring, modelling and reporting program for the Reef 2050 Plan.
The steering group guides the program’s development and operation and provides advice to the Ministerial Forum on monitoring and reporting requirements for the Great Barrier Reef.
The steering group is co-chaired by the Chairman of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Director-General of the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection. Members include senior officials from government agencies and monitoring organisations.
Working groups
On the advice of the steering group, three working groups were set up to oversee different components of monitoring and reporting the program’s development. A series of work packages to develop the Program have been identified by the working groups.
| Program design working group |
To design a fit-for-purpose monitoring program for the Reef 2050 Plan and assess the adequacy of existing monitoring programs against this design. In addition, desired states and ecosystem standards and thresholds required to achieve desired states will be developed. The group will also develop standard
monitoring protocols. Co-chaired by:
|
| Synthesis and reporting working group |
To identify data streams and synthesis required to meet Reef 2050 Plan reporting requirements. Co-chaired by:
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| Data management and systems working group |
To develop data storage protocols to ensure that monitoring program data is discoverable and accessible, and to develop protocols for managing culturally sensitive information. Co-chaired by:
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Program governance
The below governance structure outlines the governance arrangement for the implementation of the Reef 2050 Plan. This includes the steering group for the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program.