Chapter 4 Matters of national environmental significance in the Great Barrier Reef Region 4.7 Listed threatened species and ecological communities .............. 4–37 4.7.1 Marine turtles .................................... 4–38 4.7.2 Marine mammals ............................... 4–38 4.7.3 Sharks and rays ................................ 4–38 4.7.4 Seabirds ............................................ 4–39 4.8 Wetlands of international importance ................................... 4–39 4.8.1 Shoalwater and Corio Bays Area ...... 4–39 4.8.2 Bowling Green Bay Area ................... 4–40 4.9 Environmental processes ........... 4–41 4.10 Connections between matters of national environmental significance .................................. 4–48 4.11 Summary of outcomes ................ 4–53 References .................................................. 4–53 Table of contents 4 Matters of national environmental significance in the Great Barrier Reef Region ............................................... 4–3 4.1 What are matters of national environmental significance? ....... 4–3 4.2 World heritage properties ............ 4–6 4.2.1 Outstanding universal value ............. 4–6 4.3 The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park ................................................. 4–9 4.3.1 Biodiversity ....................................... 4–10 4.3.2 Geomorphological features .............. 4–16 4.3.3 Indigenous and historic heritage values ............................................... 4–20 4.3.4 Community benefits of the environment ...................................... 4–23 4.4 National heritage places ............. 4–26 4.5 Commonwealth marine areas .... 4–26 4.6 Listed migratory species ............ 4–28 4.6.1 Marine turtles .................................... 4–29 4.6.2 Estuarine crocodiles ......................... 4–31 4.6.3 Whales .............................................. 4–31 4.6.4 Dolphins ............................................ 4–32 4.6.5 Dugongs ........................................... 4–33 4.6.6 Sharks............................................... 4–33 4.6.7 Seabirds............................................ 4–34 4.6.8 Shorebirds ........................................ 4–36 Cover page image: Aerial view of Stanley Reef . 4–2 Great Barrier Reef Region Strategic Assessment | Strategic Assessment Report | Draft for public comment Extract from Great Barrier Reef Region Strategic Assessment terms of reference 2.1 Description of matters of national environmental significance 2.1.1 Describe the extent to which the following relevant matters of national environmental significance, as defined in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 apply to the strategic assessment area: a) world heritage properties, including consideration of the outstanding universal value of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area b) national heritage places c) wetlands of international importance d) listed threatened species and ecological communities e) listed migratory species f) Commonwealth marine areas g) the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The description must: h) identify key terrestrial, coastal and marine environmental, biodiversity and heritage values and/or attributes which underpin the relevant matters of national environmental significance, including the outstanding universal value of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area i) describe ecosystem processes considered critical to the functioning of the relevant matters of national environmental significance, including the Outstanding Universal Value of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area j) provide sufficient information to allow an understanding of the connectivity between the relevant matters of national environmental significance, including the outstanding universal value of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. 4 Matters of national environmental significance in the Great Barrier Reef Region 4.1 What are matters of national environmental significance? The Great Barrier Reef is recognised both nationally and internationally as an important natural area, worthy of protection. Since the 1970s, the Australian Government has progressively recognised and protected the Great Barrier Reef as one of Australia’s most precious ecosystems (Figure 4.1). This commenced with the introduction of specific legislation in 1975 and its nomination as a World Heritage Area in 1981. Throughout the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s, progressive declaration of sections of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (the Marine Park) put in place arrangements for the long-term protection of the ecosystem. Introduction of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) brought a new national focus to protecting and managing Australia’s most prized environmental assets. These are referred to as matters of national environmental significance. In 2009, the Marine Park was included as a matter of national environmental significance. Seven matters of national environmental significance are relevant to the Great Barrier Reef Region (the Region) and therefore considered in this assessment: world heritage properties listed threatened species and ecological the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park communities national heritage places wetlands of international importance. Commonwealth marine areas listed migratory species Matters of national environmental significance in the Great Barrier Reef Region 4–3 Timeline for the matters of national environmentalsignificance relevant to the Barrier Great Reef Region 1 . 4 Figure 4–4 Great Barrier Reef Region Strategic Assessment | Strategic Assessment Report | Draft for public comment All of the matters of national environmental significance are interconnected; each a part of the rich and complex Great Barrier Reef environment (Figure 4.2). Figure 4.2 Matters of national environmental significance in the Great Barrier Reef Region Matters of national environmental significance in the Great Barrier Reef Region 4–5 In addition, many of these matters overlap spatially (Figure 4.3). For example, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park makes up almost all (about 99 per cent) of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Listed threatened and listed migratory species range throughout the Region, with some also present in the adjacent coastal zone or Commonwealth marine areas beyond the Region. In this chapter, the extent to which each matter of national environmental significance applies to the Region is described in detail. A common set of key values and attributes relevant to the matters is presented. In addition, the environmental processes relevant to the matters are outlined. Figure 4.3 Spatial extent of the matters of national environmental significance for the Great Barrier Reef Region The matters of national environmental significance overlap across the Region and some extend well beyond its boundary. 4.2 World heritage properties The Great Barrier Reef is a world heritage property encompassing both Commonwealth and Queensland areas seaward of low water mark (see Figure 1.1, Chapter 1). Another world heritage property, the Wet Tropics of Queensland, is adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. There are close natural and cultural connections between the two properties. 4.2.1 Outstanding universal value The Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area covers 348,000 square kilometres and includes both marine areas and islands. There are 1050 islands including some 600 continental islands, 300 coral cays and 150 mangrove islands. It is inscribed on the World Heritage List because of its natural outstanding universal value. Outstanding universal value is defined as cultural and/or natural significance which is so exceptional as to transcend national boundaries and to be of common importance for present and future generations of all humanity. 1 Outstanding universal value is central to the way the World Heritage Convention is implemented. A property is considered ‘to be of outstanding universal value’ if it meets one or more of ten world heritage criteria and is inscribed on the World Heritage List. In addition, to be deemed to be of outstanding universal value ‘a property must also meet the conditions of integrity and/or authenticity and must have an adequate protection and management system to ensure its safeguarding’.1 4–6 Great Barrier Reef Region Strategic Assessment | Strategic Assessment Report | Draft for public comment UNESCO’s Operational Guidelines1 recognise that ‘no area is totally pristine and that all natural areas are in a dynamic state and to some extent involve contact with people’ and that human activities ‘may be consistent with the outstanding universal value of the area where they are ecologically sustainable’. Recognition of the Great Barrier Reef’s outstanding universal value was based on the natural world heritage criteria in place at the time — acknowledging the Reef’s natural values, together with the strong ongoing links between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and their sea country. The criteria have been amended and renumbered since the Reef was inscribed. The criteria at the time of listing and the equivalent current criteria are presented in Table 4.1. Table 4.1 World heritage criteria relevant to the Great Barrier Reef Short title Criteria at time of listing Current criteria Major stages of the (i) outstanding examples (viii) be outstanding examples representing Earth’s evolutionary representing the major stages of the major stages of Earth's history, including the history