State Party Report on the state of conservation of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (Australia) - 2013

Introduction

Purpose of this report

This State Party Report has been prepared in response to the World Heritage Committee's June 2012 Decision 36 COM 7B.8.

The format stipulated by the World Heritage Centre for preparing a State Party report requires the following:

1. A response from the State Party to the World Heritage Committee's decision, paragraph by paragraph. (This includes responses to all recommendations of the reactive monitoring mission report.)
2. Other current conservation issues identified by the State Party.
3. In conformity with paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, to inform the Committee of any intention 'to undertake or to authorise ... major restorations or new constructions which may affect the Outstanding Universal Value' of the Great Barrier Reef.

This State Party Report (2013) is a progress report that builds on the information provided in the previous State Party Report (2012).

Outline

Chapter 1 outlines the State Party's response to each paragraph of the World Heritage Committee's decision and the recommendations from the reactive monitoring mission report.

Chapter 2 provides an update and summary since the last State Party Report of the current conservation issues and adaptive management initiatives which collectively protect
the property.

Chapter 3 identifies proposed developments currently being assessed under Australia's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) for potential impacts on the world heritage values of the GBRWHA, both within and outside the boundary of the property. It also provides links to further documentation.