With over a thousand islands in the Great Barrier Reef, a core challenge is identifying islands for investment to deliver positive outcomes for critical island habitats and island communities in response to climate change. The Great Barrier Reef Foundation (GBRF) has partnered with AECOM to address this challenge by developing a Reef Islands Prioritisation Tool. The tool builds on existing management frameworks and uses a multi-criteria analysis with consideration of attributes, such as level of climate exposure, natural values, vulnerability of ecosystems, habitat connectivity, economic value and delivery models.
This presentation will focus on the prioritisation methodology, rationale behind the criteria and data used to support key prioritisation decisions, and how the science is applied in practice. We will discuss the key challenges and learnings associated with translating complex data into decision making tools and present a model to support other practitioners seeking to prioritise ecosystems for restoration in their own respective industries, fields and regions.
We will also share what can be achieved through a public-private partnership; highlighting the value that industry partnerships can bring and the collective impact that can be achieved.