Social and economic long-term monitoring program
Articles
Please click here to download 16 page summary booklet "Measuring the human dimension of the Great Barrier Reef - Social and economic long term monitoring program".
The SELTMP 2014: Ports and Shipping in the Great Barrier Reef technical report presents a snapshot of socio-economic data and indicators relevant to the current state of ports and shipping in the Great Barrier Reef region. A wide range of secondary data and statistics are compiled from publicly available reports, showing patterns of port usage, shipping activities, imports and exports (including their economic value) and the management frameworks to control risks.
Coastal communities and the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) have a mutually beneficial relationship: proximity to the GBR allows easy access and a sense of connection to reef ecosystems. Coastal residents and organisations are often best-placed to serve as the GBR’s custodians, due to their knowledge of and identification with the reef. On the other hand, these communities can also have negative impacts on the Reef. These varied relationships are underpinned by community perceptions and motivations, as well as drivers of change that originate outside the community.
Project summary
This project initiated a long-term monitoring program to document Australian perceptions about the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). A nationally representative online survey of more than 2,000 Australian residents explored individual attitudes about four key areas: inspiration, visitation, attitudes and perceptions of threats.
Why the research is needed