Planning education to care for the earth - IUCN Knowledge Network

Planning education to care for the earthextension services to achieve its goal “to provide for the protection, wise use,understanding and enjoyment of the Great Barrier Reef in perpetuity throughthe care and development of the Great Barrier Marine Park”. GBRMPA isrecognized internationally as a leader in community education and extensionand in public participation programmes for the management of marine areas.Regular, direct, informal contact by GBRMPA staff with Reef user groups atthe local, regional and State levels is strongly emphasized. Several advisoryand consultative committees have been established to represent political,economic and cultural interests in the development of the Marine Park. TheGreat Barrier Reef Consultative Committee provides an example of thecooperative arrangements needed to manage and evaluate activities in theReef region. This independent committee advises the Federal Ministerresponsible for the Marine Park about developments in the Reef WorldHeritage Area. Nominated representatives of scientific, tourism, commercialand recreational fishing, government, and aboriginal groups sit on thecommittee which also develops communication among the major interestgroups.Regional Marine Park advisory groups have been established along theQueensland coast to stimulate communication among government agencies,NGOs and interest groups about a range of issues including water quality,the effects of fishing, coastal development and local management plans. Theadvisory groups stimulate public debate and provide a meeting ground forconflicting interests as, for example, between commercial fishermen andconservationists. One regional committee recently initiated a 3-4 yearclosure of a reef to replenish fish stocks.As more local groups become involved in management, there is less need forgovernment regulation, expenditure and enforcement. Cooperation withvoluntary conservation organizations is important. The most influentialbodies - the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF), the AustralianWilderness Society, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and GreenpeaceAustralia - have played a major role in raising the level of awareness andaction over marine and coastal issues. Since the 1970s a number of smaller,single-issue groups have emerged. They also facilitate the involvement of theAustralian community in conservation issues and lobby governments.Natural resource agencies can make good use of the networks and the energyand commitment of these groups, which produce magazines, newsletters,books, videos and brochures for educational purposes.Mutually beneficial relations with tourist organizations and commercial“extractive” users are vital. Cooperation with these groups is needed ifregulations, management plans and education programmes are to achievetheir objectives.Public participationThe Marine Park is managed primarily through the community’sunderstanding and acceptance of zoning and other management136