As part of the Qantas Group’s commitment to raising awareness around the environment, Qantas is funding a leading-edge research project aimed at providing knowledge that will support the ability to protect the Great Barrier Reef in the face of Climate Change. The project will support the collection of data by southern elephant seals to better understand how the characteristics of the waters of the Southern Ocean are changing and how these changes may affect elephant seal populations in the future. This information will then be used to guide future elephant seal conservation measures. In addition, changes to these ocean characteristics are experienced first in cool southern waters and will be key precursors to similar and subsequent change in tropical and subtropical regions like those surrounding the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Responding to those changes will require the earliest warning possible, early predictions of change will be immensely valuable to the effectiveness of adaptation efforts on the GBR. The Great Barrier Reef is a natural asset that the Qantas Group believes must be preserved for future generations. Importantly, the international community has also acknowledged the Reef’s importance, recognising it as a World Heritage Site and an iconic hub and symbol of biodiversity. The Seals for the Reef project was carefully chosen by considering the importance of biodiversity in creating Australia’s unique identity and establishing it as an ideal destination to experience breathtaking natural settings. Seals for the Reef will contribute important data to scientists while engaging the broader public through its dedicated project website: www.sealsforthereef.com Qantas employees, customers and the community are invited to follow the excitement on the Seals for the Reef project website: www.sealsforthereef.com. You can access regularly updated information from scientists on the progress of this project. Through Seals for the Reef, we will be supporting important environmental research and will be helping to raise awareness of the challenges faced by one of Australia’s most important natural assets.

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