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Great Barrier Reef catchments, reef and islands

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Get more detailed information about Great Barrier Reef catchments, reef and islands

Overview

Wise management of wetlands is vital for protecting the Outstanding Universal Values of the Great Barrier Reef. As many wetlands are located on private property, it is a priority to work in partnership with landowners to achieve the best outcomes for everyone and the environment.

The Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2024, a five-yearly report, provides an overview of the condition of the Reef's ecosystem and heritage values, use, effects of human use and threats, responses, resilience and risks. The Outlook Report covers the period from January 2019 to December 2023.

The Reef Report Cards measure progress towards the Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan targets, objectives and long-term outcome. Additional information on the values and processes and extent of wetlands is also available.

The Wetlands of the Great Barrier Reef catchments brochure promotes the values of the wetlands. It outlines how wetlands are important for improving water quality, as habitat for fish and other wildlife, and for tourism and recreational opportunities.

The Great Barrier Reef—Our wetlands is a short two minute video that highlights the importance of wetlands in the catchments of the Great Barrier Reef. It features interviews with North Queenslanders who talk about how they value wetlands.

Wetlands and the Great Barrier Reef builds on the previous video—The Great Barrier Reef—Our wetlands. This 11 minute video explores the importance of wetlands in the Reef catchments more fully.

The Queensland Government Great Barrier Reef web site has information on the Reef, the World Heritage Area and priorities and plans.

The Reef 2050 Wetlands Strategy supports the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan 2021-25 and the Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan, setting out a framework for the improved management of the wetlands of the Great Barrier Reef catchments. It builds on the achievements of the Queensland Wetlands Program and recognises wetlands as vital to the health of the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem and its catchments.

This strategy includes five themes:

  • Improving wetlands information for decision making and action
  • Wetland planning
  • On-ground activities to protect, manage, rehabilitate and restore wetlands.
  • Engagement, education, communication and capacity building
  • Monitoring, evaluation, reporting and improvement

The development of an updated Reef 2050 Wetlands Strategy incorporated the outcomes of the independent evaluation of the of the 2016-21 Strategy and extensive consultation with Queensland State agencies, Australian Government agencies (DCCEEW, Reef Authority), GBR Wetlands Network, local governments, conservation organisations, Queensland Ports Association, agricultural and water supply representatives/peak bodies, and Traditional Owner representatives.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (the Reef Authority) release Position statements to express the Reef Authority's position on an issue where it has a strong interest, but outside it's direct regulatory control. These statements are based on the best available science and information. The Reef Authority has released a position statement for Coastal Ecosystems.

The 2022 Scientific Consensus Statement for the Great Barrier Reef brings together the latest peer reviewed scientific evidence to understand how land-based activities can influence water quality and ecosystem condition in the Great Barrier Reef and how these influences can be managed. The 2022 Scientific Consensus Statement is used by policymakers as a key evidence-based document for making decisions about managing Great Barrier Reef water quality. It is one of several projects that provides supporting information for the design, delivery and implementation of the Australian and Queensland government’s Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan 2017–2022.

The statement addresses 30 priority questions (the Evidence), and the questions are organised into several Themes: values and threats, sediments and particulate nutrients, dissolved nutrients, pesticides and other pollutants, and human dimensions and emerging science. A series of topic summaries collate evidence across the questions, including wetlands, coral reefs and seagrass.

The five-year Reef 2050 Water Quality Research, Development and Innovation Strategy 2017-2022 (RDI Strategy) is a joint action of the Queensland and Australian governments.

The Great Barrier Reef Priority Monitoring Gaps Prospectus (2021) provides an overview of the priority monitoring gaps that have been identified for investment over the next three years. The gaps have been prioritised based on their utility to assess progress against the Reef 2050 Plan and to inform management of the Reef.

The Reef Knowledge System enables resilience-based management of the Reef and its adjacent catchment, and provide managers with a comprehensive understanding of how the Reef 2050 Plan is progressing.

NESP Tropical Water Quality Hub Research Theme - Nutrients. Supports the Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan to reduce the delivery of nutrients from the catchment to the Great Barrier Reef (with a particular focus on nitrogen).

The Wetland Condition 2022 report details the wetland condition assessment methods plus the status and trend results for the 2022 reporting year, for the Great Barrier Reef catchment wetland condition monitoring program. The program tracks progress towards an objective of improved wetland condition, focussing on natural, freshwater floodplain wetlands in major aggregations within the Great Barrier Reef catchment area (GBRCA).

Additional Information

Catchment stories info

Wetland observations

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Wetland extents info metadata

Based on wetland mapping version 6.0

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Great Barrier Reef catchments, reef and islands wetland area by system 2019
System Area (ha) % wetlands area % total area
Total 1,667,562 100.0% 3.3%
Total excluding riverine and artificial/highly modified riverine 983,378 59.0% 1.9%
Artificial and highly modified 164,680 9.9% 0.3%
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (natural) 443,403 26.6% 0.9%
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (slightly modified) 3,649 0.2% 0.0%
Lacustrine (natural) 20,846 1.3% 0.0%
Lacustrine (slightly modified) 19,254 1.2% 0.0%
Palustrine (natural) 267,821 16.1% 0.5%
Palustrine (slightly modified) 63,828 3.8% 0.1%
Riverine 684,081 41.0% 1.3%
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (highly modified) 0 0.0% 0.0%
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (natural) 443,403 26.6% 0.9%
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (slightly modified) 3,649 0.2% 0.0%
Lacustrine (artificial) 58,973 3.5% 0.1%
Lacustrine (highly modified) 98,697 5.9% 0.2%
Lacustrine (natural) 20,846 1.3% 0.0%
Lacustrine (slightly modified) 19,254 1.2% 0.0%
Palustrine (artificial) 1,634 0.1% 0.0%
Palustrine (highly modified) 5,273 0.3% 0.0%
Palustrine (natural) 267,821 16.1% 0.5%
Palustrine (slightly modified) 63,828 3.8% 0.1%
Riverine (artificial) 92 0.0% 0.0%
Riverine (highly modified) 11 0.0% 0.0%
Riverine (natural) 681,155 40.8% 1.3%
Riverine (slightly modified) 2,926 0.2% 0.0%
Great Barrier Reef catchments, reef and islands wetland area by habitat 2019
Habitat Area (ha) % wetlands area % total area
Total 719,935 100.0% 1.4%
Mangroves - Casuarina 1,001 0.1% 0.0%
Mangroves - other 259,200 36.0% 0.5%
Salt marsh and salt flats 113,434 15.8% 0.2%
Arid and semi-arid saline lake 206 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain lake 1,057 0.1% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid other non-floodplain lake 0 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain clay plan lake 0 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid permanently inundated lake 5 0.0% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain lake 7,608 1.1% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain rock lake 156 0.0% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (window) lake 7,082 1.0% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (perched) lake 750 0.1% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain soil lake 164 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid saline swamp 2,415 0.3% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain tree swamp 7,937 1.1% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain shrub swamp 0 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp 2,978 0.4% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain tree swamp 16,846 2.3% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain shrub swamp 0 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp 19,940 2.8% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid other non-floodplain swamp 258 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid Great Artesian Basin fed spring swamp 28 0.0% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp 58,221 8.1% 0.1%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain wet heath swamp 3,360 0.5% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp 51,855 7.2% 0.1%
Coastal and sub-coastal other non-floodplain swamp 5,161 0.7% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp 64,441 9.0% 0.1%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp 78,208 10.9% 0.2%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain wet heath swamp 7,459 1.0% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal other floodplain swamp 33 0.0% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal tree (palm) swamp 3,317 0.5% 0.0%
Unknown - Swamp - Arid and semi-arid 2,690 0.4% 0.0%
Unknown - Swamp - Coastal and sub-coastal 4,124 0.6% 0.0%
Mangroves - Casuarina (natural) 1,001 0.1% 0.0%
Mangroves - Casuarina (slightly modified) 0 0.0% 0.0%
Mangroves - other (natural) 258,908 36.0% 0.5%
Mangroves - other (slightly modified) 292 0.0% 0.0%
Salt marsh and salt flats (natural) 111,651 15.5% 0.2%
Salt marsh and salt flats (slightly modified) 1,784 0.2% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid saline lake (natural) 206 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid saline lake (slightly modified) 0 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain lake (natural) 1,057 0.1% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain lake (slightly modified) 0 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid other non-floodplain lake (natural) 0 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain clay plan lake (natural) 0 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid permanently inundated lake (slightly modified) 5 0.0% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain lake (natural) 6,883 1.0% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain lake (slightly modified) 726 0.1% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain rock lake (natural) 153 0.0% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain rock lake (slightly modified) 4 0.0% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (window) lake (natural) 7,082 1.0% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (window) lake (slightly modified) 0 0.0% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (perched) lake (natural) 750 0.1% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain soil lake (natural) 55 0.0% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain soil lake (slightly modified) 109 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid saline swamp (natural) 2,415 0.3% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid saline swamp (slightly modified) 0 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain tree swamp (natural) 7,137 1.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain tree swamp (slightly modified) 800 0.1% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain shrub swamp (natural) 0 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain shrub swamp (slightly modified) 0 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp (natural) 2,536 0.4% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp (slightly modified) 442 0.1% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain tree swamp (natural) 16,532 2.3% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain tree swamp (slightly modified) 314 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain shrub swamp (natural) 0 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain shrub swamp (slightly modified) 0 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp (natural) 19,713 2.7% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp (slightly modified) 226 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid other non-floodplain swamp (natural) 235 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid other non-floodplain swamp (slightly modified) 23 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid Great Artesian Basin fed spring swamp (natural) 20 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid Great Artesian Basin fed spring swamp (slightly modified) 7 0.0% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp (natural) 57,668 8.0% 0.1%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp (slightly modified) 553 0.1% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain wet heath swamp (natural) 3,360 0.5% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain wet heath swamp (slightly modified) 0 0.0% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp (natural) 48,468 6.7% 0.1%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp (slightly modified) 3,387 0.5% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal other non-floodplain swamp (natural) 4,677 0.6% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal other non-floodplain swamp (slightly modified) 484 0.1% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp (natural) 55,504 7.7% 0.1%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp (slightly modified) 8,937 1.2% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp (natural) 31,023 4.3% 0.1%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp (slightly modified) 47,185 6.6% 0.1%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain wet heath swamp (natural) 7,443 1.0% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain wet heath swamp (slightly modified) 16 0.0% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal other floodplain swamp (natural) 33 0.0% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal other floodplain swamp (slightly modified) < 1 0.0% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal tree (palm) swamp (natural) 3,309 0.5% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal tree (palm) swamp (slightly modified) 7 0.0% 0.0%
Unknown - Swamp - Arid and semi-arid (natural) 2,668 0.4% 0.0%
Unknown - Swamp - Arid and semi-arid (slightly modified) 21 0.0% 0.0%
Unknown - Swamp - Coastal and sub-coastal (natural) 3,062 0.4% 0.0%
Unknown - Swamp - Coastal and sub-coastal (slightly modified) 1,062 0.1% 0.0%

Disclaimer

Areas do not include marine or estuarine waters but do include estuarine wetland vegetation
(e.g. mangroves and tidal flats).

All statistics are approximate and generated based on data transformed to a customised Albers equal-area projection, thus allowing wetland extent change for different regions of Queensland to be comparable.

Areas may change over time as mapping approaches improve.

Totals may not match the sum of individually displayed figures due to the rounding of displayed figures.

Wetland extent changes

Great Barrier Reef catchments, reef and islands wetland extent change by system
System 2019 area
(ha)
2017 area
(ha)
2013 area
(ha)
2009 area
(ha)
2005 area
(ha)
2001 area
(ha)
pre-clear area
(ha)
2019/pre-clear
percentage
Total 1,667,562 1,667,937 1,665,868 1,662,438 1,658,718 1,652,231 1,700,776 * 88.4%
Artificial and highly modified 164,680 164,506 160,909 156,636 151,769 141,684 0 n/a
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (natural) 443,403 443,405 443,700 443,982 444,106 444,378 499,050 88.8%
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (slightly modified) 3,649 3,649 3,657 3,632 3,614 3,662 0 n/a
Lacustrine (natural) 20,846 20,847 20,847 20,847 20,847 20,847 21,467 97.1%
Lacustrine (slightly modified) 19,254 19,264 19,219 19,030 18,890 17,738 0 n/a
Palustrine (natural) 267,821 267,932 268,492 268,869 269,297 270,751 393,135 68.1%
Palustrine (slightly modified) 63,828 63,835 63,589 63,425 63,396 63,384 0 n/a
Riverine 684,081 684,499 685,455 686,017 686,799 689,788 787,125 86.9%
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (highly modified) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 n/a
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (natural) 443,403 443,405 443,700 443,982 444,106 444,378 499,050 88.8%
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (slightly modified) 3,649 3,649 3,657 3,632 3,614 3,662 0 n/a
Lacustrine (artificial) 58,973 58,860 56,137 52,639 48,719 43,513 0 n/a
Lacustrine (highly modified) 98,697 98,626 97,857 97,125 96,264 91,293 0 n/a
Lacustrine (natural) 20,846 20,847 20,847 20,847 20,847 20,847 21,467 97.1%
Lacustrine (slightly modified) 19,254 19,264 19,219 19,030 18,890 17,738 0 n/a
Palustrine (artificial) 1,634 1,631 1,606 1,564 1,536 1,508 0 n/a
Palustrine (highly modified) 5,273 5,286 5,210 5,212 5,163 5,286 0 n/a
Palustrine (natural) 267,821 267,932 268,492 268,869 269,297 270,751 393,135 68.1%
Palustrine (slightly modified) 63,828 63,835 63,589 63,425 63,396 63,384 0 n/a
Riverine (artificial) 92 92 90 90 82 82 0 n/a
Riverine (highly modified) 11 11 10 6 6 3 0 n/a
Riverine (natural) 681,155 681,575 682,535 683,097 683,879 686,868 787,125 86.5%
Riverine (slightly modified) 2,926 2,924 2,920 2,920 2,920 2,920 0 n/a

* Total 2019/pre-clear percentage excludes artificial and highly modified

Great Barrier Reef catchments, reef and islands wetland extent change by habitat
Habitat 2019 area
(ha)
2017 area
(ha)
2013 area
(ha)
2009 area
(ha)
2005 area
(ha)
2001 area
(ha)
Total 719,935 720,029 720,413 720,875 721,400 723,074
Mangroves - Casuarina 1,001 1,002 1,004 1,004 1,005 1,005
Mangroves - other 259,200 259,201 259,221 259,199 259,180 259,226
Salt marsh and salt flats 113,434 113,433 113,479 113,764 113,885 114,037
Arid and semi-arid saline lake 206 206 206 206 206 206
Arid and semi-arid floodplain lake 1,057 1,057 1,057 1,057 1,057 1,057
Arid and semi-arid other non-floodplain lake 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain clay plan lake 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid permanently inundated lake 5 0 0 0 0 0
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain lake 7,608 7,609 7,611 7,598 7,598 7,598
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain rock lake 156 156 156 156 156 156
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (window) lake 7,082 7,082 7,082 7,082 7,082 7,082
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (perched) lake 750 750 750 750 750 750
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain soil lake 164 164 164 164 164 164
Arid and semi-arid saline swamp 2,415 2,415 2,428 2,428 2,463 2,482
Arid and semi-arid floodplain tree swamp 7,937 7,937 7,940 7,940 8,077 8,077
Arid and semi-arid floodplain shrub swamp 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp 2,978 2,978 2,978 2,980 2,983 2,983
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain tree swamp 16,846 16,852 16,854 16,855 16,858 16,872
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain shrub swamp 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp 19,940 19,940 19,928 19,928 19,928 19,928
Arid and semi-arid other non-floodplain swamp 258 258 260 260 260 260
Arid and semi-arid Great Artesian Basin fed spring swamp 28 28 28 28 28 28
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp 58,221 58,268 58,379 58,554 58,782 59,256
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain wet heath swamp 3,360 3,360 3,361 3,367 3,374 3,382
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp 51,855 51,837 51,617 51,598 51,594 51,597
Coastal and sub-coastal other non-floodplain swamp 5,161 5,169 5,170 5,163 5,164 5,170
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp 64,441 64,478 64,830 64,905 64,951 65,685
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp 78,208 78,220 78,264 78,272 78,241 78,404
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain wet heath swamp 7,459 7,459 7,475 7,482 7,489 7,520
Coastal and sub-coastal other floodplain swamp 33 33 33 33 30 30
Coastal and sub-coastal tree (palm) swamp 3,317 3,319 3,322 3,324 3,312 3,317
Unknown - Swamp - Arid and semi-arid 2,690 2,690 2,690 2,693 2,694 2,694
Unknown - Swamp - Coastal and sub-coastal 4,124 4,126 4,126 4,084 4,092 4,111
Mangroves - Casuarina (natural) 1,001 1,002 1,004 1,004 1,005 1,005
Mangroves - Casuarina (slightly modified) 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mangroves - other (natural) 258,908 258,910 258,929 258,922 258,902 258,946
Mangroves - other (slightly modified) 292 292 292 277 278 281
Salt marsh and salt flats (natural) 111,651 111,650 111,695 111,990 112,112 112,209
Salt marsh and salt flats (slightly modified) 1,784 1,784 1,784 1,774 1,773 1,828
Arid and semi-arid saline lake (natural) 206 206 206 206 206 206
Arid and semi-arid saline lake (slightly modified) 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid floodplain lake (natural) 1,057 1,057 1,057 1,057 1,057 1,057
Arid and semi-arid floodplain lake (slightly modified) 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid other non-floodplain lake (natural) 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain clay plan lake (natural) 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid permanently inundated lake (slightly modified) 5 0 0 0 0 0
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain lake (natural) 6,883 6,883 6,883 6,883 6,883 6,884
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain lake (slightly modified) 726 726 728 715 715 714
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain rock lake (natural) 153 153 153 153 153 153
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain rock lake (slightly modified) 4 4 4 4 4 4
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (window) lake (natural) 7,082 7,082 7,082 7,082 7,082 7,082
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (window) lake (slightly modified) 0 0 0 0 0 0
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (perched) lake (natural) 750 750 750 750 750 750
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain soil lake (natural) 55 55 55 55 55 55
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain soil lake (slightly modified) 109 109 109 109 109 109
Arid and semi-arid saline swamp (natural) 2,415 2,415 2,428 2,428 2,463 2,482
Arid and semi-arid saline swamp (slightly modified) 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid floodplain tree swamp (natural) 7,137 7,137 7,140 7,140 7,140 7,149
Arid and semi-arid floodplain tree swamp (slightly modified) 800 800 800 800 937 927
Arid and semi-arid floodplain shrub swamp (natural) 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid floodplain shrub swamp (slightly modified) 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp (natural) 2,536 2,536 2,536 2,539 2,541 2,541
Arid and semi-arid floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp (slightly modified) 442 442 442 442 442 442
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain tree swamp (natural) 16,532 16,538 16,541 16,541 16,544 16,558
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain tree swamp (slightly modified) 314 314 314 314 314 314
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain shrub swamp (natural) 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain shrub swamp (slightly modified) 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp (natural) 19,713 19,713 19,701 19,701 19,701 19,701
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp (slightly modified) 226 226 226 226 226 226
Arid and semi-arid other non-floodplain swamp (natural) 235 235 237 237 237 237
Arid and semi-arid other non-floodplain swamp (slightly modified) 23 23 23 23 23 23
Arid and semi-arid Great Artesian Basin fed spring swamp (natural) 20 20 20 20 20 20
Arid and semi-arid Great Artesian Basin fed spring swamp (slightly modified) 7 7 7 7 7 7
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp (natural) 57,668 57,715 57,826 58,001 58,233 58,706
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp (slightly modified) 553 553 553 553 550 550
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain wet heath swamp (natural) 3,360 3,360 3,361 3,367 3,374 3,382
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain wet heath swamp (slightly modified) 0 0 0 0 0 0
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp (natural) 48,468 48,450 48,457 48,439 48,447 48,450
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp (slightly modified) 3,387 3,387 3,160 3,160 3,147 3,146
Coastal and sub-coastal other non-floodplain swamp (natural) 4,677 4,685 4,686 4,698 4,699 4,705
Coastal and sub-coastal other non-floodplain swamp (slightly modified) 484 484 484 465 465 465
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp (natural) 55,504 55,554 55,897 55,987 56,063 56,717
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp (slightly modified) 8,937 8,924 8,933 8,918 8,888 8,968
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp (natural) 31,023 31,035 31,106 31,138 31,201 31,371
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp (slightly modified) 47,185 47,185 47,158 47,134 47,040 47,032
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain wet heath swamp (natural) 7,443 7,443 7,459 7,466 7,473 7,504
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain wet heath swamp (slightly modified) 16 16 16 16 16 16
Coastal and sub-coastal other floodplain swamp (natural) 33 33 33 33 29 30
Coastal and sub-coastal other floodplain swamp (slightly modified) < 1 < 1 < 1 < 1 < 1 0
Coastal and sub-coastal tree (palm) swamp (natural) 3,309 3,312 3,315 3,316 3,305 3,310
Coastal and sub-coastal tree (palm) swamp (slightly modified) 7 7 7 7 7 7
Unknown - Swamp - Arid and semi-arid (natural) 2,668 2,668 2,668 2,671 2,672 2,673
Unknown - Swamp - Arid and semi-arid (slightly modified) 21 21 21 21 21 21
Unknown - Swamp - Coastal and sub-coastal (natural) 3,062 3,064 3,064 3,129 3,137 3,191
Unknown - Swamp - Coastal and sub-coastal (slightly modified) 1,062 1,062 1,062 955 955 920

Disclaimer

Areas do not include marine or estuarine waters but do include estuarine wetland vegetation
(e.g. mangroves and tidal flats).

All statistics are approximate and generated based on data transformed to a customised Albers equal-area projection, thus allowing wetland extent change for different regions of Queensland to be comparable.

Areas may change over time as mapping approaches improve.

Totals may not match the sum of individually displayed figures due to the rounding of displayed figures.

Wildlife

Kingdom
Class
Native Introduced Wetland
indicator
species
Rare or
threatened
species
All
TOTAL 14,175 1,272 1,080 1,027 15,536
Animals 2,074 62 489 249 2,138
Mammals 227 21 10 48 248
Birds 701 15 105 78 716
Reptiles 417 3 39 53 421
Amphibians 127 1 43 38 128
Lobe-finned fishes 1 0 1 1 1
Ray-finned fishes 160 15 168 12 175
Cartilaginous fishes 38 0 38 7 38
Lampreys 0 0 1 0 1
Insects 379 7 84 6 386
Malacostracans 17 0 0 4 17
Arachnids 3 0 0 0 3
Snails 4 0 0 2 4
Bacteria 104 0 0 0 104
Chromists 96 0 0 0 96
Fungi 2,019 1 0 0 2,046
Plants 9,873 1,209 591 778 11,143
Protozoans 9 0 0 0 9

Note: Wildlife statistics are based on information that has been submitted to the DESI WildNet database and converted to a 10km² grid. The grid information has been intersected with the mapping polygons to determine the species lists. Click here to view the species grid metadata.

Information from WildNet can also be accessed via Wildlife Online and WetlandMaps.

Rare or threatened includes species listed as extinct, extinct in the wild, critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable or conservation dependent under either the Nature Conservation Act or Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act

Disclaimer: While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of this product, the Queensland Government and Australian Government make no representations or warranties about its accuracy, reliability, completeness or suitability for any particular purpose and disclaim all responsibility and all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages (including indirect or consequential damage) and costs which might be incurred as a consequence of reliance on the product, or as a result of the product being inaccurate or incomplete in any way and for any reason.

AreaType-great-barrier-reef

This page should be cited as:

Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, Queensland (2023) Great Barrier Reef catchments, reef and islands — facts and maps, WetlandInfo website, accessed 30 August 2024. Available at: https://wetlandinfo.des.qld.gov.au/wetlands/facts-maps/great-barrier-reef-catchments-reef-and-islands/

Queensland Government
WetlandInfo   —   Department of Environment, Science and Innovation