In 2017, Cyclone Debbie hit the Whitsunday coastline causing extensive the regional landscape and also heavily impacting underwater ecosystems. This disaster was a key factor underpinning the formation of a Great Barrier Reef Foundation project - the Whitsundays Reef Islands Initiative (WRII). Managed by Reef Catchments, this groundbreaking project focuses on positioning the Whitsundays as a global hub for inshore fringing reef stewardship.
The WRII coral and seagrass restoration projects were Reef Catchments' first venture into ‘in-water’ projects, marking a significant shift in its conservation strategy.
Local stewardship enhances reef health and community ties by promoting responsibility, sustainable practices, and regional tourism.
As 2022 unfolded Reef Catchments recognised the need to formalise its efforts towards preserving the Great Barrier Reef. This led to the establishment of a dedicated Reef Team. Since then, the team has expanded, adding a Senior Project Officer and developing a strategic plan. This plan not only outlines potential Reef research partnerships but also pinpoints critical marine ecosystems to prioritise moving forward. Establishing the Reef Team and plan underscored Reef Catchments’ ongoing commitment to enhancing reef resilience and conservation efforts.
More information on these projects is available on the Reef Catchments website.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
The Reef Catchments GIS team uses a computer system that captures, displays and analyses geographically referenced information. In other words, you can accurately map data in its true location on the earth’s surface and overlay it to reference other data layers.
GIS has been an integral part of Reef Catchments project management, monitoring and evaluation processes since the start of the organisation. GIS data is collected by field staff and project stakeholders and is key to measuring project progress and success, it allows us to provide accurate data to program funders for reporting purposes.
The purchase of a light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensor is allowing Reef Catchments to expand into the drone space, assisting in project prioritisation, monitoring and evaluation. The drone will detect changes in the landscape caused by erosion to streambanks and gullies using pulsed laser light to measure elevation changes on the Earth's surface.This data helps prioritise areas for rehabilitation investment, focusing on the most valuable regions for restoration.
LiDAR images showing changes in a gully over time.
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