Reefwise Wetlands Program

Overview

The Reefwise Wetlands Program seeks to maximise water quality improvements to strengthen the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef (the Reef), through the rehabilitation, restoration and/or modification of large-scale coastal wetland and riparian systems or reinstatement of wetlands in areas that were previous wetlands. Projects will support progress towards the Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan water quality targets and actions by using coastal wetland and riparian systems to process priority pollutants including dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), pesticides and/or fine sediment. The Reefwise Wetlands program provides funding to projects that will rehabilitate, restore and/or modify large scale Reef wetland and riparian systems or reinstate wetlands in arears that were previous wetlands, to maximise water quality improvements while measuring and optimising identified co-benefits. Project activities will contribute to at least one Reef Trust Outcomes: Reef Trust Outcome 1 – Improve the quality of water entering the Great Barrier Reef from broad-scale land use to increase the health and resilience of the Great Barrier Reef. Reef Trust Outcome 2 – Improve the health and resilience of coastal habitats. Reef Trust Outcome 3 – Improve and protect marine biodiversity. Project activities will also contribute to achieving the Reef 2050 Plan, the Reef Wetlands Strategy and the Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan. The Reefwise Wetlands Program is part of the Clearer Water for a Healthy Reef Package.