Project Leader and Host
Organisation
Dr Stephen Sutton, James Cook University
Project Description and Objectives
For detailed descriptions of the outputs for
this project for Year 4 (2009/2010) of the MTSRF Research
Programme, see the Annual Research
Plan.
The overarching goal of Project
4.8.5 is to provide information that will enhance our capacity to
incorporate social considerations in decision making, predict,
evaluate and mitigate negative social impacts of changes in policy
or resource condition, and facilitate the development of community
partnerships and community engagement in research and management of
the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA).
Specific objectives of Project
4.8.5 are to:
-
Understand and document the impacts of the Great Barrier Reef
Zoning Plan on use (tourism, recreation, and fishing) of the World
Heritage Area and users;
-
Develop, test, and parameterise a set of indicators that can be
used to assess change in the socio-economic environment of use of
the World Heritage Area in response to policy or environmental
changes, utilising the framework currently being developed through
the MTSRF Interim Funding program; and
-
Explore and document the social values, attitudes, perceptions,
knowledge, concerns and aspirations related to the Great Barrier
Reef Marine Park and its use, management, and conservation held by
Marine Park users and the wider community.
End-user Reference Group
Parts of this project, in particular, as related to Objective
(b), is being undertaken in collaboration with research
end-users. A one-day workshop with end-users was held in
Townsville during the first year of the project (2006/2007).
One outcome of that workshop was the establishment of a reference
group that consists of representatives of the identified end-users
of the project outcomes. The group is kept informed of
project progress via email updates on a regular basis, and
participates in relevant project activities, for example selection,
review and testing of socio-economic indicators.
