Human-induced climate change is the primary threat to the Great Barrier Reef and poor water quality can exacerbate climate-related impacts. Good water quality is critical for healthy and resilient coral reefs and supports recovery from disturbances such as mass bleaching and extreme weather events. Poor water quality continues to have […]
Seagrass meadows are a key ecosystem of the Great Barrier Reef and are currently in a poor to moderate condition mostly due to tropical cyclones, land-based runoff and climate change. Good water quality is critical for healthy and resilient seagrass meadows and supports recovery after acute disturbances such as extreme
Wetlands are important for sustaining the health and resilience of the Great Barrier Reef and provide many benefits to society and the environment. Historical loss of wetland extent has been significant for some wetland types in some regions. Natural and near-natural wetlands, and healthy rivers have the potential to support
Grazing is the biggest land use in the Great Barrier Reef catchment area occupying 31.1 million hectares of land (73% of the catchment). Grazing lands can be vulnerable to soil erosion and are estimated to contribute 60% of the total load of fine sediment exports to the Great Barrier Reef.
Broadacre crops in Queensland other than sugarcane include grains such as wheat, barley, sorghum, maize, chickpea, and faba bean, and other crops including cotton, and cover 2.8% of the Great Barrier Reef catchment. Irrigated and dryland cropping contributes 4% of the total fine sediment load to the Great Barrier Reef.
Banana growing and horticulture cover 0.2% of the Great Barrier Reef catchment, and contribute around 1% of the total fine sediment load, 1% of total exports of dissolved inorganic nitrogen, and large amounts of pesticides to the Great Barrier Reef. Much less is known about the effectiveness of management practices
Horticulture and bananas Read more...
Urban areas cover 0.7% of the Great Barrier Reef catchment area and contribute 2% of the fine sediment load and 7% of dissolved inorganic nitrogen exports. A range of both structural measures (engineered; such as sediment control and upgrades to sewage treatment plants) and non-structural measures (such as policy, planning,
What are the key factors that affect the efficacy of natural/near natural wetlands, restored, treatment (constructed) wetlands and other treatment systems in Great Barrier Reef catchments in improving water quality and how can these be addressed at scale to maximise water quality improvement?) [Q4.7.1]
