Land use impacts on Great Barrier Reef Water Quality and Ecosystem Condition
The Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan (WQIP) Is a joint commitment of the Australian and Queensland governments. The WQIP looks at how we can improve the quality of the water that enters the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) from the land. This is because land-based pollutants can affect the plants and animals that live in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef. To develop the WQIP, the two governments need to know how water quality is changing over space and time, and why. This includes understanding what factors influence water quality, the key threats, what actions have helped to improve water quality, as well as identifying gaps in our knowledge. This is the purpose of the Scientific Consensus Statement (SCS).
The SCS brings together the latest scientific evidence about how activities on land can impact water quality on the GBR. The SCS was first produced in 2002 and it is updated every 4-5 years. Each SCS builds on the evidence reported in earlier Statements to help us get a more complete picture about water quality on the Great Barrier Reef. This is critical because decision-makers in government use the SCS as a key document when they are developing new water quality-related initiatives and policies.
The team at C2O Consulting has been involved in the coordination and production of the Scientific Consensus Statement since 2008. Because of our experience and expertise, we have been appointed to lead and coordinate the 2022 SCS. Work on the 2022 SCS began in 2021 and will run until 2024.
We are currently developing a social engagement platform to share more information about the 2022 SCS process. Please email admin@c2o.net.au if you would like to know when we launch the site.
