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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 Synthesis of evidence of the effectiveness of wetlands in water quality improvement, costs and cost-drivers in the Great Barrier Reef catchment area report provides evidence to demonstrate the current understanding of the effectiveness of wetlands in water quality improvement and builds on the extensive information already available on WetlandInfo. The report was based on international, national and local (Great Barrier Reef) evidence including 238 tropical and sub-tropical studies in agricultural areas and 145 studies in non-agricultural areas, and 17 studies from the Great Barrier Reef across different wetland and treatment systems.

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 7.0

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Great Barrier Reef catchments, reef and islands wetland area by system 2021
System Area (ha) % wetlands area % total area
Total 1,685,226 100.0% 3.3%
Total excluding riverine and artificial/highly modified riverine 985,611 58.5% 1.9%
Artificial and highly modified 167,011 9.9% 0.3%
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (natural) 443,603 26.3% 0.9%
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (slightly modified) 3,892 0.2% 0.0%
Lacustrine (natural) 21,039 1.2% 0.0%
Lacustrine (slightly modified) 20,238 1.2% 0.0%
Lacustrine (unknown degree of modification) 32 0.0% 0.0%
Palustrine (natural) 265,568 15.8% 0.5%
Palustrine (slightly modified) 64,479 3.8% 0.1%
Riverine 699,365 41.5% 1.4%
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (highly modified) 0 0.0% 0.0%
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (natural) 443,603 26.3% 0.9%
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (slightly modified) 3,892 0.2% 0.0%
Lacustrine (artificial) 60,464 3.6% 0.1%
Lacustrine (highly modified) 99,028 5.9% 0.2%
Lacustrine (natural) 21,039 1.2% 0.0%
Lacustrine (slightly modified) 20,238 1.2% 0.0%
Lacustrine (unknown degree of modification) 32 0.0% 0.0%
Palustrine (artificial) 1,680 0.1% 0.0%
Palustrine (highly modified) 5,589 0.3% 0.0%
Palustrine (natural) 265,568 15.8% 0.5%
Palustrine (slightly modified) 64,479 3.8% 0.1%
Riverine (artificial) 186 0.0% 0.0%
Riverine (highly modified) 64 0.0% 0.0%
Riverine (natural) 696,038 41.3% 1.4%
Riverine (slightly modified) 3,326 0.2% 0.0%

For definitions of artificial, highly modified, modified, slightly modified and natural wetlands, see the Queensland Wetland Mapping Method - A Method to Provide Baseline Mapping of Wetland Extent and Changes in Wetland Extent in Queensland.

Great Barrier Reef catchments, reef and islands wetland area by habitat 2021
Habitat Area (ha) % wetlands area % total area
Total 719,391 100.0% 1.4%
Mangroves - Casuarina 1,063 0.1% 0.0%
Mangroves - other 259,636 36.1% 0.5%
Salt marsh and salt flats 113,904 15.8% 0.2%
Arid and semi-arid saline lake 206 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain lake 1,559 0.2% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid permanently inundated lake 5 0.0% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain lake 7,697 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 7,027 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 34 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain tree swamp 7,736 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 461 0.1% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain tree swamp 17,192 2.4% 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 18,053 2.5% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid other non-floodplain swamp 257 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid Great Artesian Basin fed spring swamp 37 0.0% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp 58,490 8.1% 0.1%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain wet heath swamp 3,356 0.5% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp 62,660 8.7% 0.1%
Coastal and sub-coastal other non-floodplain swamp 5,530 0.8% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp 66,135 9.2% 0.1%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp 74,981 10.4% 0.1%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain wet heath swamp 7,674 1.1% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal other floodplain swamp 34 0.0% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal tree (palm) swamp 3,446 0.5% 0.0%
Unknown - Swamp - Arid and semi-arid 796 0.1% 0.0%
Unknown - Swamp - Coastal and sub-coastal 351 0.0% 0.0%
Mangroves - Casuarina (natural) 1,063 0.1% 0.0%
Mangroves - Casuarina (slightly modified) 0 0.0% 0.0%
Mangroves - other (natural) 259,345 36.1% 0.5%
Mangroves - other (slightly modified) 292 0.0% 0.0%
Salt marsh and salt flats (natural) 111,900 15.6% 0.2%
Salt marsh and salt flats (slightly modified) 2,004 0.3% 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) 1,559 0.2% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain lake (slightly modified) 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) 6,571 0.9% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain lake (slightly modified) 1,126 0.2% 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) 7,027 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) 34 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid saline swamp (slightly modified) 0 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain tree swamp (natural) 6,936 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) 389 0.1% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp (slightly modified) 73 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain tree swamp (natural) 16,867 2.3% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain tree swamp (slightly modified) 325 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) 17,809 2.5% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp (slightly modified) 244 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid other non-floodplain swamp (natural) 234 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) 30 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) 57,899 8.0% 0.1%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp (slightly modified) 591 0.1% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain wet heath swamp (natural) 3,356 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) 54,452 7.6% 0.1%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp (slightly modified) 8,208 1.1% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal other non-floodplain swamp (natural) 4,973 0.7% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal other non-floodplain swamp (slightly modified) 557 0.1% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp (natural) 57,057 7.9% 0.1%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp (slightly modified) 9,077 1.3% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp (natural) 31,137 4.3% 0.1%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp (slightly modified) 43,844 6.1% 0.1%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain wet heath swamp (natural) 7,658 1.1% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain wet heath swamp (slightly modified) 17 0.0% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal other floodplain swamp (natural) 34 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) 3,439 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) 778 0.1% 0.0%
Unknown - Swamp - Arid and semi-arid (slightly modified) 18 0.0% 0.0%
Unknown - Swamp - Coastal and sub-coastal (natural) 313 0.0% 0.0%
Unknown - Swamp - Coastal and sub-coastal (slightly modified) 38 0.0% 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 2021 area
(ha)
2019 area
(ha)
2017 area
(ha)
2013 area
(ha)
2009 area
(ha)
2005 area
(ha)
2001 area
(ha)
pre-clear area
(ha)
2021/pre-clear
percentage
Total 1,685,226 1,685,128 1,685,384 1,683,453 1,680,020 1,676,175 1,669,540 1,714,338 * 88.6%
Artificial and highly modified 167,011 165,957 165,471 161,658 157,248 152,267 142,164 0 n/a
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (natural) 443,603 443,725 443,732 444,134 444,326 444,482 444,725 499,384 88.8%
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (slightly modified) 3,892 3,821 3,821 3,830 3,804 3,786 3,822 0 n/a
Lacustrine (natural) 21,039 21,044 21,044 21,129 21,129 21,129 21,129 21,981 95.7%
Lacustrine (slightly modified) 20,238 20,165 20,153 20,099 19,905 19,744 18,607 0 n/a
Lacustrine (unknown degree of modification) 32 31 31 36 34 34 33 0 n/a
Palustrine (natural) 265,568 265,840 266,069 266,660 267,125 267,537 268,966 390,755 68.0%
Palustrine (slightly modified) 64,479 64,407 64,368 63,970 63,899 63,857 63,838 0 n/a
Riverine 699,365 700,137 700,694 701,938 702,550 703,339 706,256 802,218 87.2%
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (highly modified) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 n/a
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (natural) 443,603 443,725 443,732 444,134 444,326 444,482 444,725 499,384 88.8%
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (slightly modified) 3,892 3,821 3,821 3,830 3,804 3,786 3,822 0 n/a
Lacustrine (artificial) 60,464 59,612 59,289 56,464 52,925 48,976 43,733 0 n/a
Lacustrine (highly modified) 99,028 98,810 98,635 97,757 96,990 96,094 91,162 0 n/a
Lacustrine (natural) 21,039 21,044 21,044 21,129 21,129 21,129 21,129 21,981 95.7%
Lacustrine (slightly modified) 20,238 20,165 20,153 20,099 19,905 19,744 18,607 0 n/a
Lacustrine (unknown degree of modification) 32 31 31 36 34 34 33 0 n/a
Palustrine (artificial) 1,680 1,674 1,670 1,644 1,603 1,571 1,543 0 n/a
Palustrine (highly modified) 5,589 5,619 5,634 5,559 5,531 5,483 5,606 0 n/a
Palustrine (natural) 265,568 265,840 266,069 266,660 267,125 267,537 268,966 390,755 68.0%
Palustrine (slightly modified) 64,479 64,407 64,368 63,970 63,899 63,857 63,838 0 n/a
Riverine (artificial) 186 183 183 177 177 121 101 0 n/a
Riverine (highly modified) 64 59 59 57 22 22 18 0 n/a
Riverine (natural) 696,038 696,816 697,399 698,647 699,259 700,061 702,978 802,218 86.8%
Riverine (slightly modified) 3,326 3,322 3,295 3,291 3,291 3,278 3,278 0 n/a

* Total 2021/pre-clear percentage excludes artificial and highly modified

Great Barrier Reef catchments, reef and islands wetland extent change by habitat
Habitat 2021 area
(ha)
2019 area
(ha)
2017 area
(ha)
2013 area
(ha)
2009 area
(ha)
2005 area
(ha)
2001 area
(ha)
Total 719,391 719,606 719,783 720,053 720,717 721,243 722,839
Mangroves - Casuarina 1,063 1,063 1,064 1,066 1,066 1,066 1,066
Mangroves - other 259,636 259,636 259,638 259,666 259,646 259,635 259,668
Salt marsh and salt flats 113,904 113,896 113,901 113,947 114,239 114,381 114,500
Arid and semi-arid saline lake 206 206 206 206 206 206 206
Arid and semi-arid floodplain lake 1,559 1,559 1,559 1,559 1,559 1,559 1,559
Arid and semi-arid permanently inundated lake 5 0 0 0 0 0 0
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain lake 7,697 7,697 7,698 7,697 7,697 7,697 7,697
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain rock lake 156 156 156 156 156 156 156
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (window) lake 7,027 7,027 7,027 7,027 7,027 7,027 7,027
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (perched) lake 750 750 750 750 750 750 750
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain soil lake 164 164 164 164 164 164 164
Arid and semi-arid saline swamp 34 34 34 34 34 34 34
Arid and semi-arid floodplain tree swamp 7,736 7,736 7,737 7,741 7,741 7,880 7,880
Arid and semi-arid floodplain shrub swamp 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp 461 461 461 461 461 462 462
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain tree swamp 17,192 17,204 17,210 17,212 17,223 17,226 17,240
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain shrub swamp 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp 18,053 18,120 18,120 18,120 18,123 18,124 18,126
Arid and semi-arid other non-floodplain swamp 257 257 257 258 258 258 259
Arid and semi-arid Great Artesian Basin fed spring swamp 37 37 37 37 37 37 37
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp 58,490 58,534 58,591 58,698 58,875 59,066 59,562
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain wet heath swamp 3,356 3,359 3,359 3,360 3,366 3,372 3,380
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp 62,660 62,718 62,703 62,482 62,453 62,376 62,400
Coastal and sub-coastal other non-floodplain swamp 5,530 5,538 5,553 5,547 5,542 5,543 5,551
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp 66,135 66,170 66,253 66,611 66,718 66,791 67,505
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp 74,981 74,978 74,997 74,928 75,044 75,095 75,243
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain wet heath swamp 7,674 7,674 7,675 7,687 7,692 7,700 7,729
Coastal and sub-coastal other floodplain swamp 34 34 34 34 34 34 34
Coastal and sub-coastal tree (palm) swamp 3,446 3,449 3,451 3,453 3,456 3,455 3,458
Unknown - Swamp - Arid and semi-arid 796 796 796 796 796 796 796
Unknown - Swamp - Coastal and sub-coastal 351 351 351 351 351 351 351
Mangroves - Casuarina (natural) 1,063 1,063 1,064 1,066 1,066 1,066 1,066
Mangroves - Casuarina (slightly modified) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mangroves - other (natural) 259,345 259,345 259,346 259,374 259,369 259,357 259,387
Mangroves - other (slightly modified) 292 292 292 292 277 278 281
Salt marsh and salt flats (natural) 111,900 111,963 111,967 112,014 112,314 112,458 112,539
Salt marsh and salt flats (slightly modified) 2,004 1,933 1,933 1,933 1,924 1,923 1,961
Arid and semi-arid saline lake (natural) 206 206 206 206 206 206 206
Arid and semi-arid saline lake (slightly modified) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid floodplain lake (natural) 1,559 1,559 1,559 1,559 1,559 1,559 1,559
Arid and semi-arid floodplain lake (slightly modified) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid permanently inundated lake (slightly modified) 5 0 0 0 0 0 0
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain lake (natural) 6,571 6,575 6,576 6,576 6,575 6,575 6,576
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain lake (slightly modified) 1,126 1,122 1,122 1,122 1,122 1,122 1,121
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain rock lake (natural) 153 153 153 153 153 153 153
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain rock lake (slightly modified) 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (window) lake (natural) 7,027 7,027 7,027 7,027 7,027 7,027 7,027
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (window) lake (slightly modified) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (perched) lake (natural) 750 750 750 750 750 750 750
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain soil lake (natural) 55 55 55 55 55 55 55
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain soil lake (slightly modified) 109 109 109 109 109 109 109
Arid and semi-arid saline swamp (natural) 34 34 34 34 34 34 34
Arid and semi-arid saline swamp (slightly modified) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid floodplain tree swamp (natural) 6,936 6,936 6,937 6,941 6,941 6,943 6,952
Arid and semi-arid floodplain tree swamp (slightly modified) 800 800 800 800 800 937 927
Arid and semi-arid floodplain shrub swamp (natural) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid floodplain shrub swamp (slightly modified) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp (natural) 389 389 389 389 389 389 389
Arid and semi-arid floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp (slightly modified) 73 73 73 73 73 73 73
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain tree swamp (natural) 16,867 16,880 16,886 16,888 16,909 16,912 16,926
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain tree swamp (slightly modified) 325 325 325 325 314 314 314
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain shrub swamp (natural) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain shrub swamp (slightly modified) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp (natural) 17,809 17,876 17,876 17,876 17,879 17,880 17,882
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp (slightly modified) 244 244 244 244 244 244 244
Arid and semi-arid other non-floodplain swamp (natural) 234 234 234 236 236 236 236
Arid and semi-arid other non-floodplain swamp (slightly modified) 23 23 23 23 23 23 23
Arid and semi-arid Great Artesian Basin fed spring swamp (natural) 30 30 30 30 30 30 30
Arid and semi-arid Great Artesian Basin fed spring swamp (slightly modified) 7 7 7 7 7 7 7
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp (natural) 57,899 57,972 58,030 58,137 58,314 58,509 59,005
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp (slightly modified) 591 561 561 561 561 557 557
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain wet heath swamp (natural) 3,356 3,359 3,359 3,360 3,366 3,372 3,380
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain wet heath swamp (slightly modified) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp (natural) 54,452 54,511 54,495 54,502 54,578 54,595 54,654
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp (slightly modified) 8,208 8,208 8,208 7,981 7,875 7,781 7,745
Coastal and sub-coastal other non-floodplain swamp (natural) 4,973 4,981 4,996 4,990 5,003 5,004 5,013
Coastal and sub-coastal other non-floodplain swamp (slightly modified) 557 557 557 557 539 539 538
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp (natural) 57,057 57,089 57,239 57,615 57,737 57,851 58,490
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp (slightly modified) 9,077 9,081 9,014 8,995 8,981 8,941 9,015
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp (natural) 31,137 31,144 31,155 31,239 31,276 31,343 31,498
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp (slightly modified) 43,844 43,834 43,842 43,690 43,768 43,752 43,744
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain wet heath swamp (natural) 7,658 7,657 7,658 7,670 7,676 7,683 7,712
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain wet heath swamp (slightly modified) 17 17 17 17 17 17 17
Coastal and sub-coastal other floodplain swamp (natural) 34 34 34 34 34 34 34
Coastal and sub-coastal other floodplain swamp (slightly modified) < 1 < 1 < 1 < 1 < 1 < 1 0
Coastal and sub-coastal tree (palm) swamp (natural) 3,439 3,442 3,443 3,446 3,449 3,448 3,451
Coastal and sub-coastal tree (palm) swamp (slightly modified) 7 7 7 7 7 7 7
Unknown - Swamp - Arid and semi-arid (natural) 778 778 778 778 778 778 778
Unknown - Swamp - Arid and semi-arid (slightly modified) 18 18 18 18 18 18 18
Unknown - Swamp - Coastal and sub-coastal (natural) 313 313 313 313 313 313 313
Unknown - Swamp - Coastal and sub-coastal (slightly modified) 38 38 38 38 38 38 38

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.

Australian Land Use and Management Classification (ALUMC) metadata

Great Barrier Reef catchments, reef and islands land use
ALUMC code and description Area (ha) % total area
Total 42,754,780 83.4%
2.1 Grazing native vegetation 30,127,329 58.8%
2.1.0 Grazing native vegetation 30,127,329 58.8%
1.1 Nature conservation 4,112,102 8.0%
1.1.1 Strict nature reserves 51,379 0.1%
1.1.3 National park 3,692,161 7.2%
1.1.4 Natural feature protection 50,142 0.1%
1.1.5 Habitat/species management area 134 0.0%
1.1.6 Protected landscape 93 0.0%
1.1.7 Other conserved area 318,192 0.6%
2.2 Production native forests 1,854,707 3.6%
2.2.0 Production native forests 1,854,697 3.6%
2.2.1 Wood production forestry 10 0.0%
1.2 Managed resource protection 1,591,263 3.1%
1.2.0 Managed resource protection 560,043 1.1%
1.2.2 Surface water supply 55,020 0.1%
1.2.5 Traditional indigenous uses 976,200 1.9%
1.3 Other minimal use 1,580,219 3.1%
1.3.0 Other minimal use 196,946 0.4%
1.3.1 Defence 492,180 1.0%
1.3.3 Residual native cover 886,913 1.7%
1.3.4 Rehabilitation 4,179 0.0%
3.3 Cropping 891,694 1.7%
3.3.0 Cropping 607,898 1.2%
3.3.1 Cereals 117,453 0.2%
3.3.2 Beverage & spice crops 499 0.0%
3.3.3 Hay and silage 4,101 0.0%
3.3.4 Oilseeds 803 0.0%
3.3.5 Sugar 158,272 0.3%
3.3.6 Cotton 1,634 0.0%
3.3.8 Pulses 1,034 0.0%
6.5 Marsh/wetland 717,473 1.4%
6.5.0 Marsh/wetland 200,854 0.4%
6.5.1 Marsh/wetland - conservation 6,905 0.0%
6.5.2 Marsh/wetland - production 282,783 0.6%
6.5.3 Marsh/wetland - intensive use 78 0.0%
6.5.4 Marsh/wetland - saline 226,853 0.4%
4.3 Irrigated cropping 498,126 1.0%
4.3.0 Irrigated cropping 105,390 0.2%
4.3.1 Irrigated cereals 2,701 0.0%
4.3.2 Irrigated beverage and spice crops 437 0.0%
4.3.3 Irrigated hay and silage 2,488 0.0%
4.3.4 Irrigated oilseeds 311 0.0%
4.3.5 Irrigated sugar 348,302 0.7%
4.3.6 Irrigated cotton 38,490 0.1%
4.3.9 Irrigated rice 6 0.0%
5.4 Residential and farm infrastructure 309,846 0.6%
5.4.0 Residential and farm infrastructure 19 0.0%
5.4.1 Urban residential 52,381 0.1%
5.4.2 Rural residential with agriculture 49,982 0.1%
5.4.3 Rural residential without agriculture 168,164 0.3%
5.4.4 Remote communities 1,244 0.0%
5.4.5 Farm buildings/infrastructure 38,056 0.1%
6.2 Reservoir/dam 167,069 0.3%
6.2.0 Reservoir/dam 15,257 0.0%
6.2.1 Reservoir 79,791 0.2%
6.2.2 Water storage - intensive use/farm dams 67,813 0.1%
6.2.3 Evaporation basin 4,208 0.0%
6.3 River 164,581 0.3%
6.3.0 River 159,339 0.3%
6.3.1 River - conservation 5,204 0.0%
6.3.3 River - intensive use 37 0.0%
3.1 Plantation forests 164,514 0.3%
3.1.0 Plantation forests 35,812 0.1%
3.1.1 Hardwood plantation forestry 20,588 0.0%
3.1.2 Softwood plantation forestry 107,998 0.2%
3.1.3 Other forest plantation 79 0.0%
3.1.4 Environmental forest plantation 36 0.0%
5.8 Mining 146,994 0.3%
5.8.0 Mining 42,364 0.1%
5.8.1 Mines 63,785 0.1%
5.8.2 Quarries 16,894 0.0%
5.8.3 Tailings 5,123 0.0%
5.8.4 Extractive industry not in use 18,828 0.0%
3.2 Grazing modified pastures 132,464 0.3%
3.2.0 Grazing modified pastures 9,414 0.0%
3.2.2 Woody fodder plants 122,927 0.2%
3.2.3 Pasture legumes 123 0.0%
5.7 Transport and communication 66,697 0.1%
5.7.0 Transport and communication 17,421 0.0%
5.7.1 Airports/aerodromes 6,714 0.0%
5.7.2 Roads 37,607 0.1%
5.7.3 Railways 3,823 0.0%
5.7.4 Ports and water transport 537 0.0%
5.7.5 Navigation and communication 595 0.0%
4.4 Irrigated perennial horticulture 57,236 0.1%
4.4.0 Irrigated perennial horticulture 2,405 0.0%
4.4.1 Irrigated tree fruits 31,271 0.1%
4.4.2 Irrigated olives 203 0.0%
4.4.3 Irrigated tree nuts 11,980 0.0%
4.4.4 Irrigated vine fruits 500 0.0%
4.4.5 Irrigated shrub berries and fruits 3,001 0.0%
4.4.6 Irrigated perennial flowers and bulbs 4 0.0%
4.4.7 Irrigated perennial vegetables and herbs 41 0.0%
4.4.8 Irrigated citrus 5,914 0.0%
4.4.9 Irrigated grapes 1,916 0.0%
5.5 Services 45,661 0.1%
5.5.0 Services 18 0.0%
5.5.1 Commercial services 5,843 0.0%
5.5.2 Public services 7,358 0.0%
5.5.3 Recreation and culture 31,311 0.1%
5.5.4 Defence facilities - urban 785 0.0%
5.5.5 Research facilities 346 0.0%
6.1 Lake 33,786 0.1%
6.1.0 Lake 15,833 0.0%
6.1.1 Lake - conservation 5,045 0.0%
6.1.2 Lake - production 12,466 0.0%
6.1.3 Lake - intensive use 57 0.0%
6.1.4 Lake - saline 385 0.0%
4.5 Irrigated seasonal horticulture 24,720 0.0%
4.5.0 Irrigated seasonal horticulture 15,696 0.0%
4.5.1 Irrigated seasonal fruits 515 0.0%
4.5.2 Irrigated seasonal flowers and bulbs 45 0.0%
4.5.3 Irrigated seasonal vegetables and herbs 7,715 0.0%
4.5.4 Irrigated turf farming 750 0.0%
4.2 Grazing irrigated modified pastures 15,288 0.0%
4.2.0 Grazing irrigated modified pastures 10,160 0.0%
4.2.1 Irrigated woody fodder plants 5,128 0.0%
5.3 Manufacturing and industrial 13,157 0.0%
5.3.0 Manufacturing and industrial 8,883 0.0%
5.3.1 General purpose factory 84 0.0%
5.3.2 Food processing factory 913 0.0%
5.3.3 Major industrial complex 2,337 0.0%
5.3.4 Bulk grain storage 201 0.0%
5.3.5 Abattoirs 265 0.0%
5.3.6 Oil refinery 47 0.0%
5.3.7 Sawmill 340 0.0%
5.3.8 Abandoned manufacturing and industrial 87 0.0%
6.6 Estuary/coastal waters 11,970 0.0%
6.6.0 Estuary/coastal waters 11,508 0.0%
6.6.3 Estuary/coastal waters - intensive use 461 0.0%
5.2 Intensive animal production 7,620 0.0%
5.2.0 Intensive animal production 26 0.0%
5.2.1 Dairy sheds and yards 456 0.0%
5.2.2 Feedlots 1,527 0.0%
5.2.3 Poultry farms 175 0.0%
5.2.4 Piggeries 357 0.0%
5.2.5 Aquaculture 3,098 0.0%
5.2.6 Horse studs 1,349 0.0%
5.2.7 Saleyards/stockyards 354 0.0%
5.2.8 Abandoned intensive animal husbandry 279 0.0%
4.1 Irrigated plantation forests 4,192 0.0%
4.1.0 Irrigated plantation forests 2,659 0.0%
4.1.1 Irrigated hardwood plantation forestry 659 0.0%
4.1.3 Irrigated other forest plantation 874 0.0%
5.6 Utilities 3,671 0.0%
5.6.0 Utilities 10 0.0%
5.6.1 Fuel powered electricity generation 729 0.0%
5.6.2 Hydro electricity generation 7 0.0%
5.6.4 Solar electricity generation 2 0.0%
5.6.5 Electricity substations and transmission 697 0.0%
5.6.6 Gas treatment, storage and transmission 1,564 0.0%
5.6.7 Water extraction and transmission 660 0.0%
6.4 Channel/aqueduct 3,320 0.0%
6.4.0 Channel/aqueduct 2,269 0.0%
6.4.1 Supply channel/aqueduct 924 0.0%
6.4.2 Drainage channel/aqueduct 24 0.0%
6.4.3 Stormwater 103 0.0%
5.9 Waste treatment and disposal 2,649 0.0%
5.9.0 Waste treatment and disposal 940 0.0%
5.9.1 Effluent pond 243 0.0%
5.9.2 Landfill 724 0.0%
5.9.3 Solid garbage 323 0.0%
5.9.5 Sewage 420 0.0%
4.6 Irrigated land in transition 2,403 0.0%
4.6.0 Irrigated land in transition 1,008 0.0%
4.6.1 Degraded irrigated land 114 0.0%
4.6.2 Abandoned irrigated land 533 0.0%
4.6.3 Irrigated land under rehabilitation 4 0.0%
4.6.4 No defined use - irrigation 44 0.0%
4.6.5 Abandoned irrigated perennial horticulture 699 0.0%
3.6 Land in transition 1,816 0.0%
3.6.0 Land in transition 1,676 0.0%
3.6.1 Degraded land 20 0.0%
3.6.2 Abandoned land 4 0.0%
3.6.3 Land under rehabilitation 59 0.0%
3.6.4 No defined use 1 0.0%
3.6.5 Abandoned perennial horticulture 56 0.0%
3.4 Perennial horticulture 1,446 0.0%
3.4.0 Perennial horticulture 792 0.0%
3.4.1 Tree fruits 298 0.0%
3.4.2 Olives 174 0.0%
3.4.3 Tree nuts 141 0.0%
3.4.5 Shrub berries and fruits 13 0.0%
3.4.6 Perennial flowers and bulbs 3 0.0%
3.4.8 Citrus 26 0.0%
5.1 Intensive horticulture 721 0.0%
5.1.0 Intensive horticulture 165 0.0%
5.1.1 Production nurseries 195 0.0%
5.1.2 Shadehouses 215 0.0%
5.1.3 Glasshouses 118 0.0%
5.1.4 Glasshouses (hydroponic) 7 0.0%
5.1.5 Abandoned intensive horticulture 21 0.0%
3.5 Seasonal horticulture 44 0.0%
3.5.0 Seasonal horticulture 44 0.0%

Wildlife

Kingdom
Class
Native Introduced Wetland
indicator
species
Rare or
threatened
species
All
TOTAL 13,978 1,312 1,083 1,047 15,298
Animals 2,084 62 491 256 2,146
Mammals 227 21 10 48 248
Birds 703 15 105 80 718
Reptiles 421 3 39 54 424
Amphibians 127 1 43 38 128
Lobe-finned fishes 1 0 1 1 1
Ray-finned fishes 161 15 169 13 176
Cartilaginous fishes 38 0 38 7 38
Lampreys 1 0 1 1 1
Insects 381 7 85 6 388
Malacostracans 17 0 0 6 17
Arachnids 3 0 0 0 3
Snails 4 0 0 2 4
Bacteria 102 0 0 0 102
Chromists 87 0 0 0 88
Fungi 1,915 1 0 0 1,916
Plants 9,783 1,249 592 791 11,039
Protozoans 7 0 0 0 7

Note: Wildlife statistics are based on information that has been submitted to the DETSI 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 (2025) Great Barrier Reef catchments, reef and islands — facts and maps, WetlandInfo website, accessed 8 May 2025. Available at: https://wetlandinfo.des.qld.gov.au/wetlands/facts-maps/great-barrier-reef-catchments-reef-and-islands/

Queensland Government
WetlandInfo   —   Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation