Education through tourism can be critical to understanding, and indeed protecting our natural environments. Carolyn Beasley takes a frank and fearless look at the good and the bad of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Following a visit to Lizard Island, Carolyn shares some of the realities of what is happening on the reef, and, that the experiences offered are still worthy of their global standing and our country’s pride and joy.

 “It’s important to note, however, that the reef is not dead. The latest Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report, produced by the marine park authority in 2019, assessed 31 components of ecosystem health, taking into account physical, chemical and ecological processes, coastal ecosystems and disease and pest outbreaks. The report found that about 60 per cent of ecosystem health components assessed remained in “good” to “very good” condition, while the rest were in “poor” or “very poor” condition. Designated tourist sites occupy around seven per cent of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, and most remain healthy, offering experiences that are still worthy of international acclaim. To experience the reef for myself, I head to Lizard Island, north of Cairns. The island is home to the Lizard Island Resort and Lizard Island Research Station, owned by the Australian Museum. In just a few fin kicks from the beach, I encounter the vitality that a healthy reef supports: a curious juvenile green turtle, a harmless black tip reef shark and a shimmering giant clam in aquamarine.” – Carolyn Beasley, South China Morning Post.

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