Australians support multi-pronged action to build ecosystem resilience in the Great Barrier Reef

Abstract

The scale and pace of global environmental change calls for a dramatic upscaling of ecosystem restoration and for actions that build the resilience of ecosystems to future environmental change. This research aimed to quantify public perceptions of threats to the health of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Australia, and their support for strategies to address those threats including large-scale restoration and resilience-building actions. We examine how these perceptions change over time and across social cohorts including people living closer to the Reef ( n = 2621) and the general Australian population ( n = 5825). Respondents were concerned about both the current state and future of the GBR. They identified climate change as the largest threat to the GBR with the strength of this perception increasing between 2018 and 2022. Respondents were ambivalent about existing management and overwhelmingly of the view that more should be done to save the GBR. Strong support was expressed for a range of responses including preventing threats, local restoration, measures to increase the resilience of the GBR to future threats, providing more research funding, and large-scale restoration. Trust in science to develop solutions for Reef protection and repair was high and strongly correlated with support for action. The results suggest that ongoing scientifically-informed action – underpinned by deep engagement with impacted communities and stakeholders and the full, prior and informed consent of rights-holders including First Nations – is needed to build public confidence in Reef management and the deployment of technological interventions. Synthesis of key findings from regression analyses focused on the public perceptions of environmental change on the Great Barrier Reef and support for different management responses. Figure describes the relationships for which we found the strongest support in our regression models. • The vast majority of Australian residents believe climate change is negatively affecting the health of the Great Barrier Reef. • Australian residents express strong support for measures both to reduce threats like climate change and to upscale reef restoration and adaptation actions. • Confidence in science to deliver solutions to protect and repair the GBR is high. • Confidence in science to deliver solutions is also strongly correlated with support for action to protect and repair the Reef. • Continued engagement with First Nations, stakeholders and broader publics is needed to maintain support for the development and implementation of ecosystem restoration and adaptation actions.

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