The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest living structure and one of the seven wonders of the world. While it remains a vibrant ecosystem of great natural resilience and beauty, warming oceans are causing more frequent and serious bleaching events, which can kill coral.
Reducing global greenhouse gas emissions is the most important action to minimise the impact of climate change on the Reef. But with average global temperatures already 1°C above pre-industrial levels, emissions reduction is no longer enough to guarantee survival of the Great Barrier Reef as we know it.
In addition to reducing emissions and continued best-practice reef management, the interventions resulting from this program are likely to be needed to sustain the Reef.
The RRAP Research and Development (R&D) Program is the world’s largest effort to help a significant ecosystem survive climate change.
Partners include the Australian Institute of Marine Science, CSIRO, the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, the University of Queensland, QUT, Southern Cross University and James Cook University. The Program is funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.
We aim to assist corals to more quickly evolve and adapt to their changing environment, to minimise the need for ongoing intervention.
We are investigating methods to support the natural restoration of damaged and degraded reefs.
Background information and frequently-asked questions about the impacts of climate change on coral reefs and RRAP’s approach to developing interventions to enhance the natural resilience of the Great Barrier Reef.
Photo by Andrea Severati, courtesy of AIMS.
Partnership and other general enquiries, media enquiries and job and PhD student opportunities
Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program
The Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program respects and recognises all Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef as First Nations Peoples holding the hopes, dreams, traditions and cultures of the Reef.
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