Resources
Reef Rescue R&D Resources
Final Program Report
A synthesis of the findings of the Reef Rescue R&D projects is provided in the Final Program Report. You can download the report here.
Research Outcomes Reports
All of the Reef Rescue R&D projects have delivered Research Outcomes Reports. You can access these reports from each project page, or download them here.
Project Fact Sheets
Summarised, easy to read fact sheets have been prepared for some projects, and can be downloaded here.
Program Updates
Reef Rescue R&D project and program updates are available here.
Research Linkages
Reef Rescue R&D will be implemented in collaboration with several key related research and monitoring programs. These include the Reef Plan, Paddock to Reef Integrated Monitoring, Modelling and Reporting Program, the Reef Protection Package research program, the National Environmental Research Program Tropical Ecosystems Hub, the Great Barrier Reef Foundation's eReefs initiative and a range of industry research programs. Collectively, these programs will support the implementation and evaluation of the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan and the measurement of progress towards achievement of the water quality targets defined for Reef Rescue and Reef Plan.
As part of the role of the RRRC in coordinating and integrating Reef Rescue R&D, a Research Linkages Report has been prepared. This report provides a summary of research links between Reef Rescue R&D projects and activities underway across the Great Barrier Reef and its catchments.
Further information on the scope of research in place to support Reef Rescue and Reef Plan, and how they all fit together is available at www.reefplan.qld.gov.au
Download the Reef Rescue R&D Research Linkages report1.19 MB
Program Communication
Download the Reef Rescue R&D Communications Strategy530.22 KB
Reef Rescue R&D Plan
Download the Reef Rescue R&D plan 2009 92.77 KB
Reef Programme Resources
In 2014-2015, a number R&D topics and supporting science synthesis and integration activities were funded by the Reef Programme under the Australian Government's National Landcare programme.
Reef Rescue R&D in Context
Reef Rescue
Reef Rescue was a five year, $200 million investment by the Australian Government under its Caring for our Country initiative which commenced in 2008. Reef Rescue's objective was to 'improve the water quality entering the Great Barrier Reef by increasing the adoption rate of improved land management practices that reduce the run-off of nutrients, pesticides and sediments from agricultural lands'. By 2013, the Caring for our Country Reef Rescue program aimed to:
- Reduce the discharge of dissolved nutrients and chemicals from agricultural lands to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon by 25 per cent.
- Reduce the discharge of sediment and nutrients from agricultural lands to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon by 10 per cent.
Reef Rescue was made up of five integrated components that worked together over five years (2008-2013) to achieve its objective and outcomes: Water Quality Grants, Reef Partnerships, Land and Sea Country Indigenous Partnerships, Reef Water Quality Research and Development and Water Quality Monitoring and Reporting.
- Water Quality Grants provided funds to land owners and managers to implement sustainable land management practices that reduce the amount of nutrients, chemicals and sediments leaving their farms and impacting on Reef water quality ($146 million).
- Reef Partnerships provided assistance for extending information to, and help to build relevant skills in land owners and managers ($12 million).
- Land and Sea Country Indigenous Partnerships strengthened communications between local communities, managers and reef stakeholders and builds a better understanding of Traditional Owner issues about the management of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park ($10 million).
- Reef Water Quality Research and Development provided the scientific evidence to improve our understanding of the link between land management practices and environmental impacts ($10 million).
- Water Quality Monitoring and Reporting measured progress towards the objectives of Reef Rescue, incorporating reporting of water quality at multiple scales (paddock, sub-catchment and end of catchment), land use, land condition and the uptake of best management practices ($22 million).
The majority of Reef Rescue funds were allocated to Water Quality Incentive Grants to support voluntary action by farmers and land managers in catchments draining to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. Read more
Australian Government Reef Programme
The Australian Government’s Reef Programme builds on the success of Reef Rescue (2008–2013) where more than 3200 land managers received water quality grants for on-farm projects to adopt better land management practices and improve quality of water entering the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.
The programme continues to support land managers to adopt improved land management practices that will reduce the discharge of nutrients, sediments and pesticides into the reef lagoon, as well as supporting a broad range of managers and researchers across the Great Barrier Reef catchment, including urban areas, to address the threats of declining water quality and climate variability.
The programme is made up of several integrated components:
- Water Quality Grants and Partnerships
- System Repair and Urban Grants
- Water Quality Monitoring and Reporting and Research and Development
- Crown of Thorns Starfish
- Land and Sea Country Partnerships
- Support for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Over the next five years (2013–2018), the programme has already contracted the delivery of approximately $142 million to support the health of the Reef. Read more
