Reef again avoids ‘in danger’ World Heritage listing
The beloved Great Barrier Reef has once again escaped the United Nations World Heritage Committee’s “endangered” label.
But a draft UNESCO resolution published on Saturday asked Australia for another progress report on the reef’s health by 2028.
The precious tropical reef has long been under intense pressure from climate change and polluted waters, and repeated mass bleaching events threaten its UNESCO World Heritage status.
In its interim decision, the committee identified water quality as a matter of particular concern and called for consideration of the discharge of dredge sediments in the area.
Australia is trying to avoid an official blackout that would strain the fortunes of reef tourism operators who rely on boatloads of international visitors.
Environment and Water Minister Murray Watt said Australia was doing more than ever to protect reefs.
“Our efforts are making a difference, but we know there is more work to be done,” he said.
He said the May budget allocated $91.8 million to improve water quality, monitor and pilot coral spawning techniques designed to help damaged reefs recover after bleaching events.
This brings the total investment in protection and conservation by state and federal governments to more than $5 billion since 2014.
Reforms to federal environmental laws are expected to close land clearing gaps along with agricultural clearing along waterways associated with harmful nutrient runoff and sediments.
The Queensland government has welcomed the draft decision not to list the World Heritage site as “endangered”.
“Queenslanders care deeply about the Reef and we welcome the draft resolution because it recognizes the progress that has been made to protect it,” Environment and Tourism Minister Andrew Powell said.
Lissa Schindler of the Australian Marine Conservation Society said another inspection in 2028 would amount to Australia’s fifth yellow card.
“The Australian and Queensland governments can prove they are doing enough to avoid the ‘endangered’ listing,” Dr Schindler said.
“But the truth is that one of the world’s greatest natural wonders is under international scrutiny because their efforts are not enough to secure the future of the Great Barrier Reef.”
He said climate change remains the reef’s biggest threat.
“The Queensland government, which co-manages the reef, has no plans to meet its statutory 75 per cent emissions reduction target and continues to push coal-fired power generation while renewable energy projects are blocked or shelved.”
“This is the exact opposite of what the reef needs.”
