How healthy is your ecosystem?

Imagine if your research could galvanize volunteers to protect their local river. Or inspire politicians to fund restoration activities, and stimulate engineers to devise ways to reduce pollution.

Maybe you should read our success stories, because that's just what we've achieved.

Our environmental report cards synthesize data from scientists and volunteers and convert it into an image-rich format that is easily accessible to a wide audience. Report cards also tap into a powerful human motivator: peer pressure. Civic leaders and community members can compare their grades with their neighbors, and we have learned that these comparisons lead to a desire for better environmental outcomes in their own backyard.

For nearly two decades our team has worked both at the local level with river protection groups, and developed assessments of iconic ecosystems such as the Chesapeake Bay (USA) and the Great Barrier Reef (Australia). These environmental report cards have been used to catalyze improvements in ecosystem health, guide restoration efforts, and stimulate relevant research.

We can't just study environmental problems any more. We need to use science to inspire real change.

The team delivered well above expectations providing interdisciplinary expertise in water quality, ecosystem health, science communication and integration.

Chris Chinn
Reef Plan Secretariat