THE LONG-TERM FUTURE OF THE GREAT-BARRIER-REEF

Long-term participative regional planning is a relatively new and deve loping field in Australia. To conduct a futures project that seeks to address the serious matters of reef-related food production, jobs, rec reation, cultural heritage and the conservation of the Great Barrier R eef with over 60 organizations participating, is not without its chall enges. This futures project-the 25-year Great Barrier Reef World Herit age Area Strategic Plan Development Project-has been described by the IUCN (The World Conservation Union) as having established a world mode l in participative regional planning for ecologically sustainable use of a natural resource. This article deals with the following questions : Why was the futures project needed? What was done? How was it achiev ed? What else needs to occur now and in the future? And, so what? Copy right (C) 1996 Kayt Raymond & Associates