UNESCO's concern over the future of Australia's Great Barrier Reef

Bleached coral - Great Barrier Reef, Australia

The latest report from the World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) tabled at the thirty-seventh session in June 2013, raises the uncomfortable proposal to list the Great Barrier Reef on the list of World Heritage sites in danger. UNESCO routinely monitors World Heritage sites and comments on efforts by states parties to maintain these listed valuable sites within their geographical borders. The UN body has raised concerns about coastal development, particularly the Port of Gladstone, and water quality with the Australian and Queensland Governments in previous years but found that key issues were not being fully addressed. In addition there was a lack of transparency in information being provided by the Queensland Government.

In relation to the Great Barrier Reef and Australia, the UN report specifically states:

The World Heritage Centre and IUCN recommend that the World Heritage Committee reiterate its request to the State Party (Australia) to undertake the following actions:

a) make a clear financial commitment to maintain the Reef Rescue programme and ensure water quality continues to improve,
 
b) halt the approval of coastal development projects that could individually or cumulatively impact on the property’s Oustanding Universal Value (OUV) and compromise the ongoing Strategic Assessment, and
 
c) ensure that the legislation protecting the property remains strong and adequate to maintain and enhance its OUV.
 
They further recommend that the Committee consider the Great Barrier Reef for inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger at its 38th session in 2014 in the absence of a firm and demonstrable commitment on these priority issues by the State Party.

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the wonders of the world and the largest coral reef on the planet. The international recognition of serious threats to its' survival should galvanise further action domestically as warnings from local marine scientists appear to have been largely unsuccessful.