Solutions
As the Great Barrier Reef faces the threat of human activity, steps must be taken to preserve this unique landmark. There are a number of possible solutions that could allow humans and the Great Barrier Reef to coexist.
No-Take Areas
Scientists and marine biologists suggest that one way to protect the biodiversity of the GBR is to establish no-take areas, where there can be no extractive activity. This includes mining, fishing, and drilling. (1) Today, 33% of the Great Barrier Reef is classified as a no-take area. Although this is a vast improvement, some ecologists believe that as much as 50% of the Great Barrier Reef needs to be classified as a no-take zone in order to truly protect the biodiversity of the region (2).
Sustainable Agriculture:
Runoff of sediments, nutrients and pesticides is one of the major threats to the great barrier reef. It not only pollutes the water but causes secondary events like eutrophication and the Crown of Thorns starfish epidemic. Steps must be taken to ensure that farmers can sustain their economic viability without having extreme impacts on the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem. Ways to promote better farming practices include adopting more sustainable soil, chemical and nutrient management practices (4). This includes using the lowest amount of water and fertilizers possible to sustain crops. This would include regular checks on the nutrient and moisture content of the soil. Moreover, farmers would need to farm using cultivation methods that prevent high levels of erosion. This would include conservation tillage which involves leaving the old crops from the year before in the ground.
Scientists and marine biologists suggest that one way to protect the biodiversity of the GBR is to establish no-take areas, where there can be no extractive activity. This includes mining, fishing, and drilling. (1) Today, 33% of the Great Barrier Reef is classified as a no-take area. Although this is a vast improvement, some ecologists believe that as much as 50% of the Great Barrier Reef needs to be classified as a no-take zone in order to truly protect the biodiversity of the region (2).
Sustainable Agriculture:
Runoff of sediments, nutrients and pesticides is one of the major threats to the great barrier reef. It not only pollutes the water but causes secondary events like eutrophication and the Crown of Thorns starfish epidemic. Steps must be taken to ensure that farmers can sustain their economic viability without having extreme impacts on the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem. Ways to promote better farming practices include adopting more sustainable soil, chemical and nutrient management practices (4). This includes using the lowest amount of water and fertilizers possible to sustain crops. This would include regular checks on the nutrient and moisture content of the soil. Moreover, farmers would need to farm using cultivation methods that prevent high levels of erosion. This would include conservation tillage which involves leaving the old crops from the year before in the ground.
Sustainable ranching could also have major positive effects on marine ecosystems. This includes limited grazing on certain land by preventing the animals from eating away all the grasses of plants in a particular pasture and reducing the amount of grazing animals per pasture. These methods would help prevent soil erosion and water runoff.
Things you can do
There are small everyday practices that you can uptake to help the environmental status of our reef.
Things you can do
There are small everyday practices that you can uptake to help the environmental status of our reef.
- Use fertilizers, cleaners and pesticides that are environmentally friendly
- Educate people you know about the human activity affecting the reef
- If you visit the Great Barrier Reef, do not interfere with or remove wildlife in the reef
- Support practices and policies that seek to slow climate change
Sources
PHOTO LINK:
http://ocw.tufts.edu/Content/32/imagegallery/375255/375262
- "no-take zones." National Geographic. <http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/no-take-zone/?ar_a=1>.
- Fernandes, Leanne. "Establishing Representative No-Take Areas in the Great Barrier Reef: Large-Scale Implementation of Theory on Marine Protected Areas." Conservation Biology. 19.6 (2005): 1733-1744. Print. <http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2005.00302.x/full>. (academic journal)
- "Management Practices." Australian Government. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. Web. 23 Nov 2013. <http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/outlook-for-the-reef/declining-water-quality/management-actions>.
PHOTO LINK:
http://ocw.tufts.edu/Content/32/imagegallery/375255/375262