How has Australia's Great Barrier Reef affected the local economy and culture?
One: The history and geography of Australia's Great Barrier Reef
history
The history of the Great Barrier Reef dates back about 5 million years when it was on a huge shallow platform that gradually submerged in response to global climate change. Over the past hundreds of thousands of years, the Great Barrier Reef has gradually formed what it is today. Australia has lived here for at least 60,000 years and considers it a sacred site, and these indigenous people call it "mbarra".
The Great Barrier Reef was first explored by European navigator James Cook in 1770, but it wasn't until the late 19th century that more Europeans came here.
Geographical environment
The Great Barrier Reef is made up of many different species of coral, each consisting of a calcareous skeleton built by small jellyfish (polyps). These coral skeletons come together to form the reef, which, along with other marine life, make up the ecosystem of the Great Barrier Reef.
In addition to corals, the Great Barrier Reef is home to marine animals such as fish, jellyfish, turtles, whales, and dolphins. The waters of the Great Barrier Reef are also home to many dive spots and snorkeling spots where one can explore the rich underwater life and marine landscape.
The climate within the Great Barrier Reef is warm and humid, but the climate varies slightly from region to region due to its wide area and complex topography. For example, southern waters are more affected by monsoons than northern waters and tropical cyclones and tropical storms in the north.
Two: the ecosystem of Australia's Great Barrier Reef
Australia's Great Barrier Reef is an extremely rich and diverse ecosystem that includes many different marine life, the coral reefs that support this ecosystem, and the surrounding marine environment.
coral reef
The Great Barrier Reef is made up of many different species of coral, each consisting of a calcareous skeleton built by small jellyfish (polyps). These corals come together to form a reef, and together with other marine life, they make up the ecosystem of the Great Barrier Reef.
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The Great Barrier Reef is home to a rich variety of marine life such as sawsharks, zebrafish, whale sharks, giant crocodiles, turtles and more. The Great Barrier Reef also hosts a large number of organisms, such as seaweed, sponges, coelenterates, shellfish, sea urchins, etc., which are all important parts of the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem.
Water environment
The waters in which the Great Barrier Reef is located contain a lot of nutrients and microorganisms, which allows many plankton to survive and thrive in it. These plankton are staple food for many marine organisms such as small fish, shrimp and octopuses, as well as a food source for larger predators such as sharks and rays.
In addition, Australia's Great Barrier Reef is also home to rare or endangered marine life such as giant moths, echinoderms such as rhinoceros fish, etc.
The Australian Government and other agencies have been working to protect Australia's Great Barrier Reef
Great Barrier Reef National Park
Established in 1975, the Great Barrier Reef National Park is one of the largest marine national parks in the world. Covering an area of approximately 700,000 square kilometres of the eastern coastline of the Great Barrier Reef, the park aims to protect its ecosystem and provide visitors with sightseeing and leisure activities.
The park restricts human activities, including fishing, sand dredging, coral collection, etc., to protect the local biome and ecosystem. The park also offers a range of environmental education programs to help the public understand and protect the Great Barrier Reef.
World Heritage Conservation
The Great Barrier Reef was listed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 1981, meaning it is considered of global natural value and importance and needs to be protected by the global community.
UNESCO has developed a series of regulations and standards to ensure the protection and management of the Great Barrier Reef. These standards cover aspects such as the ecosystem, management practices and educational activities of the Great Barrier Reef.
Fourth: Other protection measures
In addition to this, the Australian Government and other agencies have taken many other steps to protect the Great Barrier Reef, such as:
monitoring and studying the state of the Great Barrier Reef's ecosystem to ensure its sustainable conservation;
Limit the docking and landing of ships and aircraft on the Great Barrier Reef to reduce damage to the reef;
Conduct awareness and education campaigns to increase public awareness of the Great Barrier Reef and raise environmental awareness.
Australia's Great Barrier Reef has had a broad and far-reaching impact on Australia's economic and cultural life. Here's more information about these effects:
Economic impact
Tourism is one of the most important economic pillars of the Great Barrier Reef region, attracting millions of visitors each year to explore this beautiful marine ecosystem. The Australian Government estimates that the Great Barrier Reef tourism industry generated more than $6 billion in revenue in 2018 and supported approximately 64,000 full-time equivalent jobs.
In addition to tourism, the Great Barrier Reef supports many other economic activities such as fishing, offshore oil and gas exploration and development, research and education. The Great Barrier Reef also provides employment opportunities and economic growth for local communities, especially for towns and villages close to the Great Barrier Reef region.
Cultural influence
The Great Barrier Reef also has an important impact on the cultural heritage and identity of Australian communities. According to the Australian Commission, at least 70 tribes are associated with the Great Barrier Reef. These tribes regard the Great Barrier Reef as a sacred place and give it special meaning in their culture.
The author believes that:
The Great Barrier Reef is also an important symbol of the environmental movement in Australia and globally, encouraging action to protect this precious ecosystem, as well as other similar natural assets. The Australian government's and other agencies' conservation measures also provide a model for the global community to follow in other countries and regions.
Australia's Great Barrier Reef has had a profound impact on Australia's economy and culture and demonstrates the commitment of local communities and the global community to protecting this natural heritage.
Bibliography:
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. (2021). UNESCO World Heritage Centre (new). Great Barrier Reef. Australian Institute of Marine Science. 》(2021).
