NCEP Exercise- The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park: Conflict and Consensus in Marine Conservation

This is the story of a unique event in the global history of marine conservation. This case study explores: the historical antecedents to establishing the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP); the physical, biological, social, economic, and cultural settings; the processes of implementing and managing the park; the lessons learned from over 30 years of experience; and current issues. The GBRMP was a product of the social upheaval that characterized the 1960s in Western developed nations. The social and political forces that combined to shape the new concept of a multiple use marine protected area (MPA) and turn it into reality were unprecedented in Australia and elsewhere. Additional teaching materials on topics relating to biodiversity conservation and ecology can be obtained free of charge by registering at the Network for Conservation Educators and Practitioners’ website (http://ncep.amnh.org).