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Marine and estuarine ecosystem rehabilitation approaches

Marine and estuarine ecosystems, if degraded, require rehabilitation to maintain the components of the ecosystems and the services they provide. See the table below for various approaches to marine and estuarine rehabilitation.

<em>Z. Muelleri</em>, Gladstone. Photo by TropWATER Seagrass Ecology Group

 

Rehabilitation Techniques for Marine and Estuarine Ecosystems

Title Description
Saltmarsh Rehabilitation Review of Grey Literature Provides information on effective rehabilitation techniques from over 100 projects throughout New South Wales and Queensland.
Australian guidelines for the implementation of nature-based methods for coastal hazard risk reduction These guidelines are designed to increase awareness of nature-based methods in Australia, and to outline what needs to be considered in their implementation, including the rehabilitation of existing degraded coastal habitats, restoration of those historically present, or the creation of new habitats in ecologically suitable areas.
Saltwater Wetlands Rehabilitation Manual This manual focuses on the rehabilitation of wetlands influenced by brackish or saline waters. These wetland types are home to swamp forests, saltmarshes, mangrove forests and seagrass beds.
Restoration guidelines for shellfish reefs These guidelines were developed to help guide the establishment and delivery of shellfish restoration projects.
Best management practices for removal of debris from wetlands and other intertidal areas This document is intended to assist a wide spectrum of agencies and entities, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, other federal and state agencies, or other organizations that may be faced with planning a post-event intertidal debris response or removal action. This document describes current Best Management Practices (BMPs) for removal of large debris such as vessels, storage tanks, and construction debris from sensitive wetland and intertidal habitats.
Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program The Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program (RRAP) aims to deliver an integrated, properly governed and executed R&D program to provide a level of health insurance for the Reef, by developing safe and effective new interventions before they become critically needed. The RRAP Concept Feasibility Study took a no-stone-unturned approach to examining over 100 possible interventions to help the Reef resist, adapt to and recover from the impacts of climate change.

Additional information

Links:

  • Living Shorelines, Nature based methods for coastal protection: Living Shorelines Australia is translating science and practitioner experience into effective action to deliver nature-based methods for coastal hazard risk reduction at scale. Living Shorelines have created a database of living shoreline projects to share knowledge and build capacity among coastal practitioners. It also includes guidelines and technical information as it becomes available at Living Shorelines Australia.
  • Great Barrier Reef Coral Restoration: The project 'Best Practice Coral Restoration for the Great Barrier Reef' is funded by the National Environmental Science Program (NESP), and is a collaboration between James Cook University and Reef Ecologic. Researchers at James Cook University are working with coral reef experts from around the world in a project which aims to provide advice on best practice coral restoration for the Great Barrier Reef (GBR).
  • A roadmap for coordinated landscape-scale coastal and marine ecosystem restoration: This project developed a roadmap to guide research and investment into landscape-scale coastal and marine restoration. The project brings together interdisciplinary expertise in coastal engineering, decision theory, marine ecology, modelling and ecosystem services to examine decision support needs and opportunities to restore coastal marine ecosystems at scale.
  • Australian Mangrove and Saltmarsh Network: The Mangrove Hub conducts world-leading research into mangrove and tidal wetland ecosystems. The Mangrove Hub is equipped with extensive libraries of published articles on mangrove and tidal wetlands, aerial photographic imagery and methodologies for mangrove research and monitoring.
  • Shellfish Reef Restoration Network: The Shellfish Reef Restoration Network is a community of restoration practitioners, researchers, educators and general shellfish enthusiasts that are raising awareness and advocating for shellfish reef restoration in Australia.
  • Seagrass Restoration Network: The Seagrass Restoration Network (SRN) Australasia links scientists, industry practitioners, community and government policy makers for an up to date look at the development and implementation of conservation, recovery and restoration of seagrass meadows.
  • Accepted development requirements for operational work that is the removal, destruction or damage of marine plants: This guideline outlines the requirement for works that involve plants and plant materials in the Intertidal and Subtidal zones. Failure to adhere to these requirements may represent a legislative breach resulting in legal action.

Last updated: 3 June 2022

This page should be cited as:

Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, Queensland (2022) Marine and estuarine ecosystem rehabilitation approaches, WetlandInfo website, accessed 30 August 2024. Available at: https://wetlandinfo.des.qld.gov.au/wetlands/management/rehabilitation/rehab-process/step-4/intervention-options/itst.html

Queensland Government
WetlandInfo   —   Department of Environment, Science and Innovation