Environment minister Greg Hunt argues Australia has heeded the alarm raised over the reef’s health and it should not be listed as ‘in danger’ by Unesco.
The Australian government has told the UN it is acting with “renewed vigour” to halt the decline of the Great Barrier Reef in its official case arguing that the vast ecosystem should not be listed as “in danger” later this year.
The world heritage committee meets in Germany in June to consider whether the reef, which has lost half its coral cover over the past 30 years, has deteriorated badly enough to justify the listing.
In his letter to Unesco, the environment minister, Greg Hunt, said the government had acted with “renewed vigour” to safeguard the reef, stressing that Australia had heeded the alarm raised over its health.
“Australia has heard the concerns of its people and the international community loud and clear and is working harder than ever to address those concerns so that the intrinsic value of the reef is maintained and future generations can experience this stunning coral reef ecosystem and create their own memories for years to come,” Hunt wrote.
Hunt said the government’s report to Unesco “clearly demonstrates that the Great Barrier Reef does not warrant being listed as in danger.
“We know the reef is facing challenges but we are making significant progress. There is strong evidence that our efforts are working.”
Australia’s report addressed concerns raised by Unesco over the industrial dredging and dumping of sediment in the reef’s waters by stressing that five proposals to dump material had been shelved and that the practice would be banned within the Great Barrier Reef marine park – although not in its wider world heritage area.
