Seagrass – deepwater |
Low Wet season only |
Low to very low Wet season only |
Low |
Coral reefs – mid and outer shelf
Moderate ( COTS and bleaching ; relative to Wet Tropics ) Large wet season events only
Very low to no risk Large wet season events only
Derived from the following risk assessments : 1 Brodie et al . ( 2016 ); Waterhouse et al . ( 2016 ); 2 Lewis et al . ( 2013 ); Waterhouse et al . ( 2015 ); 3 Lewis et al . ( 2016 ); Davis et al . ( 2017 ).
3.4 Management targets and objectives
The Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan 2017-2022 ( Reef 2050 WQIP 6 ) was updated in 2017 with new targets to support the long-term outcome that ‘ Good water quality sustains the outstanding universal value of the Great Barrier Reef , builds resilience , improves ecosystem heath , and benefits communities ’. The Burdekin WQIP 2016 also identifies several resource condition and management action targets relevant to sugarcane management in the region .
Land and catchment management targets : The Reef 2050 WQIP includes revised land and catchment management targets which address improved agricultural practices and the protection of natural wetlands and riparian areas . These targets recognise the important role of improved land management practices and catchment condition in meeting the end of catchment pollutant load reduction targets and are based on the conceptual understanding of the link between land condition , management practice standards and water quality outcomes . The relevant land and catchment management targets and human dimensions targets to be achieved by 2025 are :
� 90 per cent of priority areas under grazing , horticulture , bananas , sugarcane and other broad-acre cropping are managed using best management practice systems for water quality outcomes ( soil , nutrient and pesticides ); � The extent of riparian vegetation is increased ; � No loss of the extent of natural wetlands ( natural wetlands include lakes , swamps and estuarine wetlands ); and � Active engagement of communities and land managers in programs to improve water quality outcomes is increased .
The proposed Implementation Plan should adopt the management practice adoption and human dimensions targets and have regard to the riparian vegetation and natural wetlands targets . The actions must be designed to accelerate progress towards achieving these targets .
The Burdekin WQIP 2016 also defined several management action targets that are more specific to the region and current practices . These need to be modified to align with the revised Reef 2050 WQIP targets , and current knowledge :
Cane-1 . By 2020 , at least 75 per cent of sugarcane areas are managed using Six Easy Steps Guidelines for management zone yield potential for determining fertiliser rates , or other innovative management regimes ( 2016 adoption of these practices is ~ 17 per cent ).
Cane-2 . By 2025 , 90 per cent of sugarcane areas are managed using Six Easy Steps Guidelines for management zone yield potential for determining fertiliser rates , or other innovative management regimes .
Cane-3 . By 2020 , less than 20 per cent of sugarcane areas use low efficiency irrigation techniques ( current D class irrigation practices ).
Cane-4 . By 2025 , at least 60 per cent of sugarcane areas are managed using high efficiency irrigation techniques ( B irrigation practices ) ( 2016 adoption of these practices is less than 10 per cent ).
Low
6 https :// www . reefplan . qld . gov . au / about /
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