State of the Reef Report 2006 Overview: the current status of the Great Barrier Reef

Abstract

The Great Barrier Reef is under mounting pressure. Similar pressures elsewhere in the world have contributed to the loss of up to 20% of the world’s coral reefs, with a further 24% of the world’s coral reefs under imminent risk of collapse. Despite these pressures, the Great Barrier Reef is still a wonderful natural asset for Australia and the world. Many areas are still in very good condition but there is no room for complacency on the part of managers or the community. Given the increasing pressures on the Great Barrier Reef, active protection is required to ensure that the Great Barrier Reef remains an intact and functional ecosystem, and that human use of the Reef is sustainable now and for the future.