Very good: All elements Good: Some loss or Poor: Loss or alteration of Very poor: Loss or alteration of necessary to maintain the alteration of the elements many elements necessary to most elements necessary to outstanding universal necessary to maintain the maintain outstanding maintain the outstanding value are essentially outstanding universal value universal value has occurred, universal value has occurred, intact, and their overall has occurred, but their which is leading to a causing a major loss of the condition is stable or overall condition is not significant reduction in this outstanding universal value. improving. Available causing persistent or element of the outstanding evidence indicates only substantial effects on this universal value. minor, if any, disturbance element of outstanding to this element of universal value. outstanding universal value. Area (See Chapter 1, Figure 1.1) Trends Confidence in condition and trend  GBR Great Barrier Reef Region ↑ Improving Adequate high-quality evidence and high level of consensus ↔ Stable ◐ Limited evidence or limited consensus ↓ Deteriorating — No clear trend  Very limited evidence, assessment based on anecdotal information a) contains unique, rare or Natural beauty and phenomena (previously criterion (iii) now criterion (vii)): superlative natural phenomena, formations or features or areas of exceptional natural beauty, such as superlative examples of the most important ecosystems to man Condition and trend poor good Excerpt from statement Comment Area Very Good Very Poor Confidence The natural beauty of most of the Region remains intact, especially for offshore Superlative natural beauty coral reefs and aerial vistas, as well as for  ↓ GBR above and below the water neighbouring islands. The significant loss of coral cover has reduced underwater aesthetic value. Both above and below the water, the Region’s scenery remains spectacular. Some of the most spectacular  ↓ There have been some declines in the GBR scenery on Earth aesthetics of inshore reefs in the southern two-thirds. One of a few living structures The Reef remains visible from space and
Very good: All elements necessary to maintain the outstanding universal value are essentially intact, and their overall condition is stable or improving. Available evidence indicates only minor, if any, disturbance to this element of outstanding universal value. Good: Some loss or alteration of the elements necessary to maintain the outstanding universal value has occurred, but their overall condition is not causing persistent or substantial effects on this element of outstanding universal value. Poor: Loss or alteration of many elements necessary to maintain outstanding universal value has occurred, which is leading to a significant reduction in this element of the outstanding universal value. Very poor: Loss or alteration of most elements necessary to maintain the outstanding universal value has occurred, causing a major loss of the outstanding universal value. Area (See Chapter 1, Figure 1.1) GBR Great Barrier Reef Region Trends ↑ Improving ↔ Stable ↓ Deteriorating — No clear trend Confidence in condition and trend  Adequate high-quality evidence and high level of consensus ◐ Limited evidence or limited consensus  Very limited evidence, assessment based on anecdotal information a) Natural beauty and phenomena (previously criterion (iii) now criterion (vii)): contains unique, rare or superlative natural phenomena, formations or features or areas of exceptional natural beauty, such as superlative examples of the most important ecosystems to man Area Condition and trend Confidence Excerpt from statement Comment Very good Good Poor Very poor Superlative natural beauty above and below the water The natural beauty of most of the Region remains intact, especially for offshore coral reefs and aerial vistas, as well as for neighbouring islands. The significant loss of coral cover has reduced underwater aesthetic value. GBR ↓  Some of the most spectacular scenery on Earth Both above and below the water, the Region’s scenery remains spectacular. There have been some declines in the aesthetics of inshore reefs in the southern two-thirds. GBR ↓  One of a few living structures The Reef remains visible from space and
gbr-state-party-report-2015.docx