Greening Australia welcomes a commitment to invest in the Great Barrier Reef

Greening Australia welcomes the commitment made by all political parties to increase investment in the health of the Great Barrier Reef and particularly to improve water quality and build resilience of the reef to climate change.

This month, Greening Australia launched Reef Aid, a program to fund and deliver the restoration of key catchment areas that are feeding sediment, agricultural pollutants and fertilizers into the Reef ecosystem.

‘We will be working with land owners to halt widespread erosion gullies through innovative treatment and restoration of native plant communities, said Greening Australia CEO, Brendan Foran.

‘By restoring the banks of rivers and gullies and rebuilding coastal wetlands we can reduce sediment and agricultural pollutants being released into the Reef.

The Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Plan targets a reduction of 50% of fine sediment entering the Great Barrier Reef by 2025. These improvements to agricultural land in the Barrier Reef catchment are considered vital to reach this target.

‘Scientific research has shown us that water quality is key to building climate resilience back into the Reef and curtailing crown of thorns starfish infestations.

‘Greening Australia will continue to work with all sides of government, with corporate partners and the community to help fund this vital restoration work.

‘We’re calling on the community to also get behind the Reef. Consider making a donation to the Reef Aid program via the donation page

Image: Erosion on the banks of the Burdekin River in Queensland. An estimated 10,000 hectares of actively eroding gullies are contributing around 1.4 million tonnes of sediment along with pesticides and nutrients into the waters of the Great Barrier Reef every year.