Australian Great Barrier Reef - Report Example

Australian Great Barrier Reef report of the Australian Great Barrier Reef report Summary As a major Australian tourist attraction, Great Barrier Reef has proved to be a solution to foreign exchange that Australia needs. This report, will critically evaluate the responsibilities and roles of different stakeholders in managing sustainable tourism in Australia. Of course, for any given organization or firm to be active and productive, the stakeholders should have a focus and pursue it. This report is based on Australian Great Barrier Reef as a case study on how stakeholders operate. Background of Australian Great Barrier Reef Australian Great Barrier Reef is known as one of the largest coral reefs ecosystem. It is estimated to be 344,400 km2. It has a good location, in the Coral Sea, off the coastal of Queensland in Australia, and was created in 1975. It was created through the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act. It was recognized and then selected as a world heritage site in 1998, after which it was labeled on the East of the seven natural wonders in the world. It is among the vital part of the local groups’ spirituality and cultures. This is its detailed background (Herremans, 2006 12-30). Introduction Before fully anchoring on the management strategies of Australian Great Barrier Reef, it is better to understand what tourism entails. It entails a business that acts as service provider to people, or rather natives of a certain country or even region. It can also be defined as a commercial organization, travelling for vacation, business, recreation, operation, or visiting of interesting places. This act, has contributed a lot to the economy of many countries, Australia being included. Apart from tourist, it is imperative to understand what stake holder is. This is a group or organization, or even a person with a concern or interest in a given organization. Therefore, stakeholders here indicate those individuals who have concern in Great Barrier Reef. While sustainable tourism is an act of tourism, which primarily meets the needs of current tourism and at the same time hosts regions while enhancing and exchanging opportunity for future. Tourism plays a crucial role in harnessing resources in such a manner that social, economic, as well as aesthetic needs can be satisfied while cultural integrity is maintained (PGM Environment. 2012 26-27). These include biological diversity, essential ecological processes, and life support systems. On the other hand, sustainable development caters for the present needs, without literally compromising the future generation’s ability to meet their own needs. This Australian Great Barrier Reef covers the basic attractions of the reefs, its impact, as well as the adjacent stakeholders, both the key and minor ones (Lawrence, VanPutten, Fernbach, 2014 27-29). Key stakeholders of the Australian Great Barrier Reef The key stakeholders of Australian Great Barrier Reef are the main Australian Government, Queensland Government, and lastly the GBRMPA. All the stakeholders work under certain conditions to establish a common goal (Impact Assessment, 2012 7-9). Analysis Australian government As one of the stakeholder, the Australian government plays a vital role in promoting the sustainability of the Reefs. Its mandate is to ensure, the forestry department, fisheries; agriculture as well as development is well maintained (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. 2012 37-38). All the above departments have influence on sustainability of Reefs. The government is centre on agreements. It ensures all the agreement made of the Reefs is followed up to the last bit. The agreement demonstrates that the key pressures impacted on the reefs, for instance the impact of climatic change, the quality of the water catchment as well as coastal development are all put into action. Queensland government Considerably, Queensland government is another pertinent stakeholder in Great Barrier Reefs. They work in close partnership with the industry, ports and all governmental levels in implementation and development of actions geared towards implementing principles of state-wide level. This takes place through the Queensland Ports Strategies. Due to consistency and the need for change in industry, environment and ports, the Queensland government’s approaches are set to change or be reviewed after every five years (Queensland Resource Council. 2012 12-15). GBRMPA The GBRMPA provides a distinct road map to action by the Great Barrier Reefs. The road map focuses on the available resources and the possible efforts in ensuring the best is achieved. The road map is usually altered after every four years; all in the name of ensuring best possible outcomes are achieved (Cruise, 2012 23-27). This department works best in controlling the Reef’s water quality, climatic change, and coastal development as well as fishing impacts. Generally, GBRMPA has acknowledged a continued support and recognition of the Great Barrier Reefs in the live of industry and community. NGOs Generally, they form an Australian Greenpeace. They also form a strategy that controls the Reefs and fish species. To crown it all, GNOs are concerned at the general conservativeness, of the Great Barrier Reef. The above are some of the stakeholders that are currently in operation with one common goal of heightening the performance of Australian Great Barrier Reef. All the departmental stakeholders shown above, work in chain and all the information under each depart shows the responsibility of its associated stakeholder. Relationship of each stakeholder department (Infrastructure Australia. 2012 2-3) The above diagram represents the network and the channel of assessment in each department. However, they all operate based on the government priorities. Impact of Australian Great Barrier Reef Due to its capacity and capability, Australian Great Barrier Reef has made several impacts on both environmental and social niche. With the emphasis on sustainability development, the organization managed to stabilize the economy of Australia, its social factors and environmental conservation (Deloitte Access Economics. 2011 8-9). On the aspect of environmental, experts assert that it has enabled the change of climate from deterioration to an admired environment since factors such as water pollutions are no longer a bother in the country. (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. 2012 26-28). Economically, the country is empowered owing to the 6 billion tourists per annum who are attracted to the fishing activities at the ports. As much as this has caused overfishing, the fact remains that it has attracted more and more tourist each year. Evaluation and discussion analysis Under the control and lead of international coral Reef initiative, denoted as (ICRI), in partnership with the Belize Government, they usually take stewardship problems. Stewardship hence entails the guarding of all the necessary issues when it comes to Reefs (Infrastructure Plan 2012 67-68). With the involvement of government, the process of stewardship is correctly followed and hence implemented. Thee two usually lay down a strategy or rather a plan that directs all the concerned to a limelight when it comes to protection of their valuables. Apart from laying strategies and principles, a means on how to protect the reefs should be implemented. If Reefs are not properly protected, they can be interfered hence coming into a state of being rare species. With that, plans should be formulated in such a way that Reefs should get total protection. Because of that, citizen science initiative was formulated. Their mandate is fully protect the (Reefs PGM Environment. 2012 14-26). Due to environmental related issues, and other factors, also guards have bee staged in place, all in the name of protecting and guarding Reefs. This people keep eye on the Reefs in the effort of making them multiply and not diminish. Apart from the guardians on the ground, there are Reef guardian council, who ensures the stated laws are followed effectively by the Reef guardians. For perfect work on how to guard the Reefs, as well as offering of more concrete support, Reef Guardian schools have been established. Also for identification and other vital issues, the sighting networks have been longed. All these strive to maintain and keep alive the presence of Reefs in Australia (Queensland Resource Council. 2012 12-15). This is how valuable Reefs are to Australian government when it comes to tourism attraction and that is why, Australian Great Barrier Reef have given in their best. Conclusion Research shows that the environmental pressures have affected tourism and hospitality. People are currently more versed with environmental issues directing them to tourism sectors. As much as Australian Great Barrier Reef is good when it comes to tourism, still there is need to heighten this position. Consequently, for it to be more effective when it comes to tourism, then the stakeholders should adhere to communication. The reefs were about to lose its world records due to general deterioration and so the mandate is directed to the stakeholders to ensure this situation is rectified. Recommendations It is recommended that since the Australian Great Barrier Reef is in a threatened state, then all the departmental duties, or rather the stakeholder’s responsibility be followed fully. If all stakeholders will be active, then the Reefs will be rejuvenated. Appendix I: Key stakeholders Appendix II: Relationship of each stakeholder department References Reference Biggs, D 2011, Understanding resilience in a vulnerable industry: the case of reef tourism in Australia. Ecology and Society,16(1) pp. 30 Herremans, I.M 2006, Cases in sustainable Tourism: An experiential approach to making decision, London: Routledge. Lawrence, K, VanPutten, I & Fernbach, M 2014, Profiles of Recreational Use of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Research Publication No. 101, Science Coordination Group, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Australia [online] www.gbrmpa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/44657/RP101RecUseGBRMP.pdf [Accessed on 12 February 2014]. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009 , Australian Government 2009, [online] www.gbrmpa.gov.au/corp_site/about_us/great_barrier_reef_outlook_report [Accessed 10 February 2014]. Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics. 2012. Australian bulk commodity export and Infrastructure.p24. London: Routledge Cruise, D. 2012. Economic Impact Assessment of the Cruise Shipping Industry in Australia. Britain: Carlberg Deloitte Access Economics. 2011. Queensland Resource Council – Queensland resource sector state growth outlook study. London: Routledge Department of Transport and Main Roads, Port Trade Statistics Eco Logical Australia Pty Ltd and Open Lines Consulting Pty Ltd, Abbot Point Cumulative Impact Assessment . 2012 .Preliminary Report, prepared for Abbot Point Working Group. Australia; Working group. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. 2012 . Ports and Shipping Information Sheet. 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