People are a part of the Great Barrier Reef. SELTMP is assisting Reef managers and decision-makers within the Great Barrier Reef region to better understand the human dimension of the Reef, to help improve planning and management for the Reef’s future.

Resilience-based management of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR; the Reef) requires monitoring of critical ecological and ‘human dimension’ components of the GBR social-ecological system. Human dimensions include the social, cultural, economic, and institutional factors that shape people’s relationship with the Reef. The Social and Economic Long-Term Monitoring Program (SELTMP), led by Australia’s national science agency CSIRO, provides the only long-term continuous human dimension data that are collected specifically to inform adaptive management of the GBR and enable evaluation of progress towards human dimension objectives in Australia’sReef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan, such as ensuring sustainable uses, maintaining cultural values and attachment of people to the reef, and people and communities taking action to maintain its resilience.

SELTMP uses large-scale community surveys and other methods to gather data about Reef users, communities and industries, and their changing relationship with the GBR over time. This information assists Reef managers and decision makers, to improve planning and management for the Reef’s future.