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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The phrase ecologically sustainable development (ESD) has been evolving
over the past 25 years or more, as we become aware that current patterns
of economic growth and consumption are unsustainable and must be decreased
and transformed if future generations are to have the ability to meet
their needs and aspirations.
The Cooperative Research Centre for Ecologically Sustainable Development
of the Great Barrier Reef has, as the name implies, the goal of "science
for the ecologically sustainable development of the Great Barrier Reef
World Heritage Area". The Centre is an unincorporated body including resources
and expertise from a number of natural resource management, research and
industry organisations who have their own goals and objectives in addition
to that of Science for ESD. As the meaning of the ESD concept is somewhat
ambiguous and open to interpretation, variation in interpretation among
the CRC Reef Research Centre Ltd's participant agencies may prove to be
a constraint on cooperative research. Thus the aim of this project was
to determine if and how the meaning of ESD differs among and within agencies
participating in the Cooperative Research Centre for Ecologically Sustainable
Development of the Great Barrier Reef.
Analytical survey techniques were used to compare opinions of
all members of GBRMPA, AIMS, James Cook University, QDPI, QDEH and the
Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators, who were recipients of the
Centre's June newsletter. Mean responses on a number of factors associated
with the concept and implementation of ESD were then compared among and
within agency groups.
This study has found there to be variation in the recognition and
importance placed on some key ESD principles; the forces influencing
the fulfilment of those principles; and the measures needed in order to
ensure that ESD principles are achieved. This appears to be a result of
some disparities between priorities of the management, research and industry
organisations reflecting on their interpretation of ESD. Science for the
ecologically sustainable development of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage
Area is a very important goal. However, I believe that its principles
must be practically defined in relation to research, the Great Barrier
Reef, and the global community, in order to prevent cooperation towards
this goal being hindered by ulterior agency goals and differing interpretations
of the phrase, objectives and principles of ESD observed in this study.
THIS PUBLICATION IS CITED AS:
Ludescher, Claudia Maria. (1996).
Perceived meanings of 'ecologically sustainable development' within
the CRC Reef Research Centre Ltd
CRC Reef Research Centre Ltd
Technical Report No. 8
Townsville; CRC Reef Research Centre Ltd, 67 pp.
ISBN 1 876054 07 07.
A full copy of this report may be obtained from the author(s),
and through the following libraries:
Agency libraries: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority,
Townsville; Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville; James
Cook University, Townsville; Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries
(Brisbane and regional offices); Queensland Department of Environment
and Heritage (Brisbane and regional offices); CSIRO Division of Marine
Research, Tasmania.
Public libraries: Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania and South
Australia State libraries; National Library, ACT.
Parliamentary libraries: Queensland, New South Wales and South
Australia parliamentary libraries.
For a hard copy (or pdf file) of the report contact CRC Reef on info@crcreef.com.
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