The Great Barrier Reef is not only one of the natural wonders of the world, it is a significant part of Australia’s national identity. It faces a number of pressures and whilst considerable progress has been made over many years to improve the management of the Reef, there is still more to be done. The Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan presents a comprehensive strategy to protect the Reef’s values into the future while allowing ecologically sustainable development and use.

When the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1981, it was already a multi-use area supporting a range of commercial and non-commercial activities. The adjacent catchment has undergone significant development including land clearing, agriculture, mining, industrial and urban growth. While some activities (such as commercial turtle harvesting and whaling), have been stopped and others (in the case of drilling for oil on the reef) were never allowed to start, it is clear that the full consequences of this ongoing development are only now being understood and addressed.

Since World Heritage listing, major steps have been taken to protect and manage the Reef. Almost all of the property is now within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and a strict zoning plan is in place. In addition, state and national laws were passed to curb land clearing in catchments and ensure that impacts of new development on the Reef and its Outstanding Universal Value are taken into account through planning systems and environmental assessment processes.

Industries and the community have played their part in protecting the Reef. For example, through the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan, improved land management practices by farmers and graziers have been instrumental in halting the long-term increases in sediment, nutrients and pesticides entering the Reef.

Despite this significant progress, the greatest risks to the Reef remain—as outlined in the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2014 —climate change, poor water quality from land-based run off, impacts from coastal development and some fishing activities. Many of the activities needed to improve the Reef’s resilience have already commenced, and the Australian and Queensland governments agreed with the UNESCO World Heritage Committee that this long-term plan for the Reef was essential.

Equally important are the cultural and economic aspirations of the Indigenous communities of Queensland where strong connections with country continue. The cultural and ecological knowledge of Traditional Owners will be essential in delivering effective long-term management for the Reef.

This Plan identifies the actions that must be taken to protect the Reef for future generations. It brings programs and activities together to ensure greater coordination, efficiency and effectiveness. It describes how all levels of government, non-government organisations, industry and community groups can work together to further strengthen existing and implement new initiatives for the Reef. Integral to this approach will be the development of sectoral-based implementation plans around key human activities. These plans will outline how avoidance, mitigation, management and restoration actions combine to ensure development is sustainable.

In addition, regionally-based implementation plans will be important to address locally significant risks and to encourage community participation.

At the core of the Plan is an outcomes framework to guide the protection and management of the Great Barrier Reef towards an overarching vision:

In 2050 the Great Barrier Reef continues to demonstrate the Outstanding Universal Value for which it was listed as a World Heritage Area and supports a wide range of sustainable economic, social, cultural and traditional activities.

Outcomes, objectives and measurable targets have been identified across seven themes—water quality, biodiversity, ecosystem health, economic benefits, heritage, community benefits and governance—to form a comprehensive management framework to achieve the vision. Where appropriate, they build upon existing targets (such as those in the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan 2013) and focus on activities which will safeguard the Outstanding Universal Value of the Reef.

A Reef-wide integrated monitoring and reporting program is being developed to review the success of the Plan and inform adaptive management. It will build upon and coordinate existing monitoring and reporting activities and will be directly linked to the outcomes and targets identified in the Plan.

The Great Barrier Reef Ministerial Forum, which is made up of Australian and Queensland government ministers with portfolio responsibilities for the Great Barrier Reef, is overseeing the development and implementation of this Plan.

When completed, the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan will become a schedule to the Great Barrier Reef Intergovernmental Agreement 2009.