Great Barrier Reef Foundation

09/10/2026

Lady Elliot Island is becoming a climate refuge.

As the impacts of climate change intensify on the Great Barrier Reef, species are expected to migrate south in search of cooler conditions. Thanks to the Leaf2Reef research as part of the Reef Islands Initiative, we've modelled what that could mean for Lady Elliot Island, and the findings are striking. Rather than declining, biodiversity here is projected to hold steady, or even increase. 🪸

That makes the health of this island more critical than ever. 💙

🎥 Learn how we're restoring Lady Elliot Island - watch the full story here: https://youtu.be/mMnmVP-DPBw?si=Y5HoFZhfpyVwEzU2
Follow along for the next mini-update.

The Reef Islands Initiative at Lady Elliot Island is a Great Barrier Reef Foundation program, supported by funding from Lendlease , the Australian Government’s Reef Trust , the Queensland Government and the Fitzgerald Family Foundation. It is delivered in partnership with Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort , Queensland National Parks , Queensland Environment , the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the University of the Sunshine Coast .

Produced by the talented BenandDi

06/10/2026

THIS Thursday 8 October, join us as we deep dive into all things seagrass - the underwater meadows quietly helping keep the Great Barrier Reef healthy. 🐢

Come along curious and walk away having learnt a thing or two! Best of all, it's FREE! 🌱

Join the Deep Dive. Register now to secure your spot. 🔗 96554a65-3e4c-4b6d-a9ad-1111c4925f3d@8d01dd1f-4b20-4406-a047-8d15797ba229" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/96554a65-3e4c-4b6d-a9ad-1111c4925f3d@8d01dd1f-4b20-4406-a047-8d15797ba229

06/10/2026

🌊 Yesterday was World Habitat Day!

Coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass meadows, the open ocean - marine habitats can be thousands of kilometres apart, yet they're all connected by currents, food webs and migrating animals. What happens in one place ripples through the rest.

The ocean never fails to amaze us. 💙

👇 What's your favourite marine habitat? Tell us in the comments!

01/10/2026

Introducing Studio Reef, a one-of-a-kind handknotted rug by Australian artist Ken Done. 🪸

For Ken, diving on coral reefs is "a visual feast" - darting fish, spotted and dotted coral, and colour only nature can create. Studio Reef brings all that joy, energy and vibrancy of the underwater world into your home. 🐠

We're proud to be a chosen charity for the Designer Rugs 40th anniversary charity auction, where six designers each created a rug for a cause close to their heart. All proceeds from Studio Reef go towards protecting the Great Barrier Reef.

Once it's gone, it's gone. This design will never be made again.

Bidding closes 10pm Thursday 15th October. Click the link to find out more and place your bid. https://designerrugs.com.au/products/studio-reef

🔗 For more information about the Designer Rugs auction, click here: https://designerrugs.com.au/blogs/journal/designer-rugs-celebrates-40th-auction-charity

For Ken Done, diving on a coral reef is nothing less than a visual feast. The darting fish, the spotted and dotted coral, the incredible colour that only nature can create each dive offers a fresh source of inspiration. Studio Reef distils that joy into a design alive with energy and hue, invitin...

01/10/2026

How do you regenerate a remote coral cay with no fresh water and almost no soil? It's exactly as hard as it sounds.

Over the past eight years, the Reef Islands Initiative has shown what's possible when science, innovation, and people come together. Lady Elliot Island is now home to the first coral cay plant nursery of its kind, hosting over 6,000 native plants grown to help revegetate the island.

Innovation like this is what makes restoration possible in places where nature can't easily do it alone.

🎥 Follow along for the next mini-update! Watch the full story here - https://youtu.be/mMnmVP-DPBw

The Reef Islands Initiative at Lady Elliot Island is a Great Barrier Reef Foundation program, supported by funding from Lendlease , the Australian Government’s Reef Trust, the Queensland Government and the Fitzgerald Family Foundation. It is delivered in partnership with Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort , Queensland National Parks , Queensland Environment , the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the University of the Sunshine Coast .

Produced by the talented BenandDi .

30/09/2026

Biodiversity is booming on the Reef! 🪸

Home to around 9,000 marine species, the Great Barrier Reef is one of the most alive place on Earth.

To wrap up Biodiversity Month, we wanted to spotlight a few fascinating species. Swipe to explore. 👉

Want to help protect the Reef? Head to the link - https://www.barrierreef.org/you-can-help

29/09/2026

📣 Free Webinar next week!

Next Thursday 8 October, we're diving into all things seagrass - the underwater meadows quietly helping keep the Great Barrier Reef healthy. 🐢

We'll unpack why these meadows matter, the challenges they're facing, and the work underway to bring them back. But wait! We're also taking you behind the scenes at SeaGrow in Gladstone - one of the world's largest seagrass nurseries!

Curious? Come join the Deep Dive. Register now to secure your spot.
🔗 96554a65-3e4c-4b6d-a9ad-1111c4925f3d@8d01dd1f-4b20-4406-a047-8d15797ba229" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/96554a65-3e4c-4b6d-a9ad-1111c4925f3d@8d01dd1f-4b20-4406-a047-8d15797ba229

28/09/2026

Did you know coral reefs support more biodiversity than any other ecosystem on Earth?! 🐠

September is Biodiversity Month, so let's unpack what makes the Great Barrier Reef so extraordinary! From tiny plankton to apex predators, every species has a role to play in keeping this ecosystem balanced and healthy.

Swipe to learn why it matters, and how we're working to protect it for generations to come. 🪸

Want to help protect the Reef? Head to the link - https://www.barrierreef.org/you-can-help

27/09/2026

More turtle nesting habitat!

By regenerating the native flora that gives turtles sheltered places to lay their eggs, the Reef Islands Initiative has grown turtle nesting habitat on Lady Elliot Island by 125%.

🎥 Follow along for the next mini-update! Watch the full restoration story here - https://youtu.be/mMnmVP-DPBw

The Reef Islands Initiative at Lady Elliot Island is a Great Barrier Reef Foundation program, supported by funding from Lendlease , the Australian Government’s Reef Trust, the Queensland Government and the Fitzgerald Family Foundation. It is delivered in partnership with Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort , Queensland National Parks , Queensland Environment , the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the University of the Sunshine Coast .

Produced by the talented BenandDi.

23/09/2026

Once a wasteland, stripped bare by guano mining, Lady Elliot Island is now a thriving forest, alive with astonishing biodiversity. 🪸

Over eight years, the Reef Islands Initiative has planted 17,400 native trees on the Island - revegetating an area equal to 21 football fields, and restoring critical habitat for nesting seabirds, turtles, and the reef itself.

This is what's possible when science, tourism and conservation come together. 👏

Follow along for the next mini-update! Click the link in our below to watch the full story on YouTube. 🎥

https://youtu.be/mMnmVP-DPBw

The Reef Islands Initiative at Lady Elliot Island is a Great Barrier Reef Foundation program, supported by funding from Lendlease , the Australian Government’s Reef Trust, the Queensland Government and the Fitzgerald Family Foundation. It is delivered in partnership with Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort , Queensland National Parks , the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority , Queensland Environment and the University of the Sunshine Coast .

Produced by the talented BenandDi.