* Coastal habitats (reefs, foreshores, rivers and estuaries) are under increasing pressure from human activities. More than 85 per cent of Queensland's population lives on the coastal fringe. Predicted strong population growth means the intensity of activity and development in coastal zones is likely to persist or increase. The purpose of this vulnerability assessment process is to provide a mechanism to highlight key concerns and make assessments of the vulnerabilities of species, groups of species or habitats to sources of pressure within the Great Barrier Reef. The purpose of the vulnerability assessment matrix is not to produce a comprehensive ecological risk assessment, but to identify and document key pressures that influence a species, species group or habitat, using a standardised and transparent process. To achieve this objective, it has been necessary to apply a linear relationship (e.g. a=b, or exposure=sensitivity) to comparisons that are sometimes non-linear by nature. For example, when applying the exposure/sensitivity matrix to create a combined score for the two, if a species, group of species or habitat has a very high level of exposure to a pressure but low sensitivity to it (using the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009 risk assessment process outlined below), it is scored as having a medium–high exposure/sensitivity score. This medium–high score may be the same as determined for another assessment where there may be a low level of exposure but a very high level of sensitivity. This implies a linear relationship between the sensitivity of a species or habitat and a given level of exposure, which may not necessarily be the case. However, it does provide managers with the required level of resolution on these relationships for the purpose of vulnerability assessments and Great Barrier Reef Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2013. Criteria for determining the degree of exposure or sensitivity against each source of pressure are based on those published in Appendix 4 of the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009. For each pressure, once the likelihood and consequence of exposure (or sensitivity) has been established using Appendix 4, the risk (or in the context of the pressure assessment matrix, the degree of exposure or degree of sensitivity being assessed), is calculated using the matrix of Figure 8.1 on page 166 of the Outlook Report.5
* Coastal habitats (reefs, foreshores, rivers and estuaries) are under increasing pressure from human activities. More than 85 per cent of Queensland's population lives on the coastal fringe. Predicted strong population growth means the intensity of activity and development in coastal zones is likely to persist or increase. The purpose of this vulnerability assessment process is to provide a mechanism to highlight key concerns and make assessments of the vulnerabilities of species, groups of species or habitats to sources of pressure within the Great Barrier Reef. The purpose of the vulnerability assessment matrix is not to produce a comprehensive ecological risk assessment, but to identify and document key pressures that influence a species, species group or habitat, using a standardised and transparent process. To achieve this objective, it has been necessary to apply a linear relationship (e.g. a=b, or exposure=sensitivity) to comparisons that are sometimes non-linear by nature. For example, when applying the exposure/sensitivity matrix to create a combined score for the two, if a species, group of species or habitat has a very high level of exposure to a pressure but low sensitivity to it (using the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009 risk assessment process outlined below), it is scored as having a medium–high exposure/sensitivity score. This medium–high score may be the same as determined for another assessment where there may be a low level of exposure but a very high level of sensitivity. This implies a linear relationship between the sensitivity of a species or habitat and a given level of exposure, which may not necessarily be the case. However, it does provide managers with the required level of resolution on these relationships for the purpose of vulnerability assessments and Great Barrier Reef Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2013. Criteria for determining the degree of exposure or sensitivity against each source of pressure are based on those published in Appendix 4 of the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009. For each pressure, once the likelihood and consequence of exposure (or sensitivity) has been established using Appendix 4, the risk (or in the context of the pressure assessment matrix, the degree of exposure or degree of sensitivity being assessed), is calculated using the matrix of Figure 8.1 on page 166 of the Outlook Report.5
Vulnerability-Assessment-Estuaries-2016.docx