Raine Island, Great Barrier Reef (1981) by Great Barrier ReefUNESCO World Heritage
It’s the world’s largest reef ecosystem at over 2,300km long, running from Thursday Island in the north down to Bundaberg. Between 60km and 250km wide, it’s the size of Italy. Its inshore reefs are around 35m deep, while outer reefs plunge more than 2,000m below the surface.
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (1981) by Great Barrier ReefUNESCO World Heritage
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is a protected zone made up of 3,000 coral reefs, 600 continental islands, 300 coral cays and 150 inshore mangrove islands. It was the first coral reef in the world to be inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1981.
Northern Reef, Great Barrier Reef (1981) by Great Barrier ReefUNESCO World Heritage
One of the most complex ecosystems on the planet, the Great Barrier Reef is home to thousands of species of marine life. Best known for its iconic colourful corals, the Reef hosts 450 types of hard corals and at least 1,000 species of soft corals and sea pens.
Great Barrier Reef Sweetlips (1981) by Great Barrier ReefUNESCO World Heritage
The Reef’s incredibly diverse marine life also includes 1,625 species of fish, 136 varieties of sharks and rays, more than 30 species of whales and dolphins, one of the world’s largest populations of dugong and six of the world’s seven species of marine turtles.
Turtle hatchling, Great Barrier Reef (1981) by Great Barrier ReefUNESCO World Heritage
Many marine animals rely on the Reef for shelter, food and breeding grounds. It’s home to more than 130 threatened species including whale sharks, blue whales, snub-fin dolphins and green turtles.
Raine Island, Great Barrier Reef (1981) by Great Barrier ReefUNESCO World Heritage
Raine Island, on the northern edge of the Great Barrier Reef, is the world’s largest remaining rookery for endangered green turtles. Every year, up to 100,000 turtles visit Raine Island to lay their eggs.
Coral bleaching, Great Barrier Reef (1981) by Great Barrier ReefUNESCO World Heritage
Climate change is the biggest threat to the Great Barrier Reef, and coral reefs around the world. Warmer temperatures are causing more frequent and severe mass coral bleaching events, threatening the entire ecosystem including the marine life that call it home.
Crown-of-thorns starfish, Great Barrier Reef (1981) by Great Barrier ReefUNESCO World Heritage
A range of other local threats are impacting the Reef such as poor water quality, outbreaks of coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish and coastal development.
Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef (1981) by Great Barrier ReefUNESCO World Heritage
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are the Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef. As the oldest continuous civilisation on the planet, they have been caring for the modern form of the Reef since it formed after the last ice age.
Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef (1981) by Great Barrier ReefUNESCO World Heritage
Traditional Owners are the first scientists, farmers, engineers and conservationists. They have successfully nurtured and protected their environment through changing seasons and climates, guided by traditional knowledge and customs passed down through generations.
Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef (1981) by Great Barrier ReefUNESCO World Heritage
Through their stories, Traditional Owners enrich our understanding of the inherent connection between the land, sea, sky, animals and people, and how we can’t heal one without healing the rest.
Traditional Owners’ song lines impart ancient wisdom that helps keep emerging generations connected with their land and sea Country.
Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef (1981) by Great Barrier ReefUNESCO World Heritage
Guided by their unique cultural connections, Traditional Owners are demonstrating how deep-rooted cultural connections are critically important in contemporary conservation efforts.
Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef (1981) by Great Barrier ReefUNESCO World Heritage
Today, there are over 70 Traditional Owner groups whose Country includes the Great Barrier Reef and its surrounding catchments. They are leaders in the largest ever co-designed Reef protection effort in the world.
Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef (1981) by Great Barrier ReefUNESCO World Heritage
Under this partnership, Traditional Owners are co-designing and co-delivering projects that support local Reef monitoring and conservation activities, facilitating training and employment opportunities and working in leadership roles to help guide decision-making.
Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef (1981) by Great Barrier ReefUNESCO World Heritage
By weaving together traditional knowledge and western science, Traditional Owners are developing and applying innovative solutions to the challenges threatening coral reefs.
Reef Monitoring (1981) by Great Barrier ReefUNESCO World Heritage
This work is part of a huge collective effort to protect the Reef from the impacts of climate change. Reducing global emissions is not enough to safeguard the world’s reefs. We must also accelerate efforts to protect ocean habitats, restore coral reefs and help them adapt.
Releasin gCoral Larvae (1981) by Great Barrier ReefUNESCO World Heritage
Right now the world’s largest research and development program to protect an ecosystem from climate change is underway in Australia. The Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program is creating solutions to help reefs resist, adapt to, and recover from warming ocean temperatures.
Entrance Reef (1981) by Great Barrier ReefUNESCO World Heritage
It’s not too late to secure the Great Barrier Reef’s future. In combination with a range of conservation efforts including crown-of-thorns starfish control, water quality improvements, revegetation efforts and blue carbon capture, we can protect it for generations to come.
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (1981) by Great Barrier ReefUNESCO World Heritage
This exhibit was created by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation – www.barrierreef.org
With special thanks to Goondoi Arts Aboriginal Corporation (Bagirgabarra & Dyirrabarra), Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC (Eastern Kuku Yalanji) and Girringun Aboriginal Corporation (Nywaigi, Gugu Badhan, Warrgamay, Warungnu, Bandjin, Girramay, Gulngay, Jirrbal & Djiru).
More on the Great Barrier Reef and World Heritage: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/154
Photos: Gary Cranitch, Queensland Museum; Jenn Loder, Great Barrier Reef Foundation; Romy Bullerjahn, Romy Photography; Southern Cross University.
Videos: Ben Andryc, Bendi Media; Queensland Government; Ewan Cutler, Hudson Films; Johnny Gaskell.
