Image source,Getty Images
The Great Barrier Reef was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1981.
With strong lobbying by Australia, Unesco did not list the Great Barrier Reef as a World Heritage Site “at risk”.
BBC reporter Frances Mao reported that UNESCO had previously issued a report stating that the Great Barrier Reef was not adequately protected to help it withstand climate change or achieve water quality goals. However, this decision by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee will give the Australian government more time.
Australia said it has invested more than 3 billion Australian dollars (2.2 billion US dollars) to improve the conditions of the Great Barrier Reef.
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the most famous natural wonders in the world and one of Australia’s most popular tourist attractions.
Recently, however, many large-scale coral bleaching and other problems have exacerbated the environmental degradation here.
Why is the Great Barrier Reef so special?
With its “great scientific and essential importance”, the Great Barrier Reef has been on the World Heritage List for 40 years.
The Great Barrier Reef is actually composed of about 3,000 independent coral reefs, which extend more than 2,300 kilometers along the northeastern coast of Australia.
Here is one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the world. The coral structure is rich in a lot of marine life and plants.
For decades, scientists have been impressed by the rich diversity and beautiful scenery here.
The Great Barrier Reef is home to endangered creatures such as more than 400 kinds of corals, about 1,500 species of fish and green sea turtles. As a marine structure, it also provides protection for coastal areas against large waves and storms.
Face threat
Since 1995, global warming has caused the Great Barrier Reef to lose half of its corals.
Among them, dendritic corals, which are large in size and are habitats for a series of marine life, are particularly threatened.
Polyps are the backbone of coral reefs, and they are highly sensitive to sea temperature. If the water temperature is too high, they will die.
In the past five years alone, the Great Barrier Reef has experienced three large-scale coral bleaching events.
Image source,GREAT BARRIER REEF MARINE PARK AUTHORITY
The coral reefs of the Great Barrier Reef have suffered three major blows in the past five years.
Coral bleaching refers to the phenomenon of stressed corals expelling the algae that live in them. These algae both give them color and life. These corals will turn white later, this process is also called bleaching.
Climate change will also cause ocean acidification and coral reef erosion.
If the seawater temperature drops again after bleaching, the coral reef may be restored. The entire recovery process will take at least 10 to 15 years.
But scientists warn that the Great Barrier Reef is now on the verge of collapse.
After the bleaching events in 2016 and 2017, a study found that there were not enough adult corals to allow the most affected areas to regenerate normally.
In 2019, Australia lowered its long-term outlook for the Great Barrier Reef to “very poor”.
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has stated that climate change remains the biggest threat here.
Other threats
Over the years, human activities such as coastal development and agricultural pollutant discharge have also brought challenges to the health of the Great Barrier Reef.
Sediments, nitrogen, and pesticides from nearby farms flow into the Great Barrier Reef, reducing water quality and allowing algae to continue to grow.
Illegal fishing and even the destruction of corals by tourists during the journey are also problems facing the local area.
The natural enemy of corals, the crown of thorns starfish, is another big problem.
With the reduction of surrounding marine life, the number of crown-of-thorns starfish has increased rapidly. A single crown of thorns starfish can destroy a large area of coral.
Safeguard
Image source,Getty Images
After the 2016/2017 bleaching incident, the Australian government promised to provide a rescue plan worth 500 million Australian dollars (370 million US dollars) to the Great Barrier Reef.
These measures include killing the crown of thorns starfish and paying farmers to reduce the discharge of agricultural materials to the Great Barrier Reef.
But critics say that there are no measures in this plan to address the major threat of climate change.
What else needs to be done?
Experts warn that the only way to save coral reefs is to immediately reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The United Nations stated that even if the world controls global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius, 90% of the world’s corals will still die.
Since the pre-industrial revolution, global temperature has risen by about 1 degree Celsius.
Scientists say that people must abandon the use of fossil fuels.
Australia pointed out that climate change is a global issue, but critics still said that the Australian government is delaying.
As one of the world‘s largest exporters of fossil fuels, Australia continues to advocate the use of coal, natural gas and oil. The country is also lobbying against UNESCO’s listing of the Great Barrier Reef as a “endangered” heritage list.
Queensland, the home of the Great Barrier Reef, is one of the most intensive areas of coal mining in the world.
Australia has already committed to a 2030 emission target that will reduce emissions by 26% from 2005 levels, but the United Nations says Australia is not on the right track to achieve this goal.
Although the United States, the United Kingdom and many European and Asian countries have pledged to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, Australia, under pressure, has not made the same pledge so far.