Assessment and monitoring of the human dimensions within the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program: final report of the Human Dimensions Expert Group

Abstract

[Extract] The National Environmental Science Programme (NESP) Project 3.2.2 and funds provided through the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program (RIMReP) have provided a methodology for assessing and monitoring the Great Barrier Reef (Reef)’s human dimensions as a key mechanism to support governance and management of the World Heritage Area. The work has used a conceptual framework to identify appropriate sets of indicators for characterising the desired state of the Reef’s human dimensions at the whole-of-Reef and regional scales. Using this framework, 25 indicator attributes that describe people’s relationship with the Reef were grouped into five key attribute clusters which align with the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan (Reef 2050 Plan) Outcomes. These are: (i) human aspirations, capacities and stewardship associated with the Reef; (ii) community vitality related to Great Barrier Reef outcomes; (iii) economic values related to Great Barrier Reef outcomes; (iv) culture and heritage related to the Reef; and (v) the health of governance systems affecting Reef outcomes. This work was undertaken with collaboration and input from the Reef-wide (RIMReP) Human Dimensions Expert Group and six Regional Discussion Panels in the Reef catchment. Populating this framework to determine the state of the human dimensions associated with the Reef requires a rich evidence base. As a result of this work, alignment of the human dimensions framework with Reef 2050 Plan targets, objectives and outcomes has revealed several significant gaps for monitoring implementation of the Reef 2050 Plan.

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