Federal and Queensland Governments given six more months to tackle threats to Great Barrier Reef

While the Australian and Queensland Governments have been given a temporary reprieve on a potential ‘In Danger’ listing for the Great Barrier Reef, Australia must report to UNESCO in February 2024 on further progress to better protect the Reef or risk an ‘In Danger’ listing.

Following UNESCO’s release of its latest State of Conservation Report and draft recommendations on Monday night, Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) Great Barrier Reef Campaign Manager Dr Lissa Schindler noted “The Great Barrier Reef faces the fight of its life, a fight that is set to get harder with a predicted El Niño increasing the likelihood of marine heatwaves and coral bleaching.

“Australia’s protection of the Reef has been in the global spotlight for the past decade, under the scrutiny of the global community, including UNESCO and the World Heritage Committee.

“Our governments have been given six more months to tackle the threats to the Great Barrier Reef, and they must take full advantage of that time for the sake of our Reef, its $6 billion tourism industry and the 64,000 jobs it supports.”

UNESCO made 22 recommendations to the Australian and Queensland governments to help protect the Reef and retain its World Heritage status in their Reactive Mission Report last year, including improving climate policies and emissions targets, improving water quality, stopping tree clearing in Reef catchments and restoring coastal wetlands.

UNESCO’s decision to defer the ‘In Danger’ threat until next year reflects the Australian and Queensland governments’ initial progress on those recommendations, but Dr Schindler advises “they must now make good on this vote of faith from UNESCO and deliver on all of the recommendations.”

Dr Schindler adds “they will have to report to UNESCO in February 2024 and they must be able to demonstrate further, genuine progress in safeguarding the Reef’s future, or they risk an ‘In Danger’ listing. Time is running out for our Reef. 

“The commitment to phase out destructive gillnets is greatly welcomed, but progress on other recommendations has been too slow and more action is needed on climate change, tree clearing and water quality.

“Climate change remains the greatest threat to the Reef. Both the Australian and Queensland governments must urgently cut fossil fuel emissions to protect the Reef to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius – a critical threshold for coral reefs.

“Tree clearing is still a massive problem for the waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Clearing increases sediment runoff into Reef waters, smothering the coral and the seagrasses that marine life such as threatened dugongs depend upon.

“Both governments could also improve Reef water quality by investing in protecting and restoring coastal wetlands. Wetlands filter the water by trapping sediment and treating nutrient runoff from farms. They can also help tackle climate change through their ability to capture and store carbon.”