Abstract Summary
This year, Australia embarked on a bold project: to create an innovative suite tools that can be rolled-out at the scale needed to help preserve and restore the Great Barrier Reef. They must be targeted, affordable, risk-assessed and socially and ethically acceptable. The breadth and sophistication of the tools under consideration may surprise you. They include: engineering solutions to adjust the coral environment to cool water and shade reefs; enhancing coral species’ natural heat resistance; creating coral probiotics to support and accelerate regrowth after a negative event; reef re-seeding; and predator, algae and disease management. One of the most comprehensive programs of its type in the world, leading experts from more than a dozen agencies and universities have been collaborating under the program’s $6M scoping phase, funded by the Australian Government. They have been assessing existing research and technology and developing refined forecasts of how the Reef will respond under different climate scenarios. They have also extensively consulted with industry, community, and the broader Australian public, to gauge sentiment, appetite for intervention and priorities for action if, when, and where it is decided action is needed. The outcome will be a plan that identifies and prioritises research and development projects which could begin from as early as 2019. This plan will help inform spending of the recently announced Australian Government funding for reef restoration and adaptation research. While addressing climate change remains the most important action to help preserve coral reefs worldwide, that alone now will not likely be enough to preserve the Great Barrier Reef. Even with strong greenhouse gas mitigation, temperatures will continue to rise and stay elevated for a long period. Mass coral bleaching and storm damage are forecast to increase. In addition to strong greenhouse gas mitigation and continued management of local pressures, maintaining coral reefs into the future will require bold and active support. Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program leader David Mead will present an overview of the program, key findings and discuss future plans.
