(The Guardian) Government outlines $1.2bn plan to protect Great Barrier Reef
The Albanese government will commit an additional $204m to protect, manage and restore the Great Barrier Reef, bringing the total spend on the reef to $1.2bn.
The environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, has today outlined the government’s vision for the future of the Reef, which includes replanting parts of the reef with new corals, catchment restoration, working with fisheries and a new research centre.
In a joint statement, Plibersek and the special envoy for the Great Barrier Reef, Nita Green, have released the following details: The additional funding will immediately address critical gaps in the reef 2050 long-term sustainability plan and speed-up reef protection activities.
Catchment restoration programs will restore and remediate gully and stream banks to reduce sediment run-off into the reef and improve water quality.
Additional funding will also support targeted blue carbon ecosystem restoration projects. Mangroves, tidal marshes and seagrasses are critical in protecting the reef from run off but also provide important breeding and feeding habitats for marine life.
$20m will be dedicated to assist corals to evolve more quickly and adapt to their changing environment, as well as supporting natural restoration of damaged and degraded reefs.
New funding will deliver stronger fisheries management and protect threatened species on the Reef by working with commercial fishers to reduce by-catch through modifying and upgrading fishing equipment.
A grant of $15.3m will be provided to set up the new Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre at the Central Queensland University in Gladstone. This will allow the hire of additional specialist staff and set up new research laboratories. The centre will undertake critical scientific work to improve Australia’s understanding of Reef ecosystems.
Together with the Queensland government, the new funding brings Australia’s total reef investment to more than $4.4bn from 2014-15 to 2029-30.
The Albanese government will commit an additional $204m to protect, manage and restore the Great Barrier Reef, bringing the total spend on the reef to $1.2bn.
The environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, has today outlined the government’s vision for the future of the Reef, which includes replanting parts of the reef with new corals, catchment restoration, working with fisheries and a new research centre.
In a joint statement, Plibersek and the special envoy for the Great Barrier Reef, Nita Green, have released the following details: The additional funding will immediately address critical gaps in the reef 2050 long-term sustainability plan and speed-up reef protection activities.
Catchment restoration programs will restore and remediate gully and stream banks to reduce sediment run-off into the reef and improve water quality.
Additional funding will also support targeted blue carbon ecosystem restoration projects. Mangroves, tidal marshes and seagrasses are critical in protecting the reef from run off but also provide important breeding and feeding habitats for marine life.
$20m will be dedicated to assist corals to evolve more quickly and adapt to their changing environment, as well as supporting natural restoration of damaged and degraded reefs.
New funding will deliver stronger fisheries management and protect threatened species on the Reef by working with commercial fishers to reduce by-catch through modifying and upgrading fishing equipment.
A grant of $15.3m will be provided to set up the new Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre at the Central Queensland University in Gladstone. This will allow the hire of additional specialist staff and set up new research laboratories. The centre will undertake critical scientific work to improve Australia’s understanding of Reef ecosystems.
Together with the Queensland government, the new funding brings Australia’s total reef investment to more than $4.4bn from 2014-15 to 2029-30.
