UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee has threatened to downgrade the condition of the Great Barrier Reef to “at risk” – unless Australia does more to protect it.
It’s part of a recommendation passed earlier this week at a conference in Paris.
UNESCO wants Australia to review the reef’s management to address environmental factors such as pollution, water quality, mass bleaching, and sustainable fishing.
Those findings must be collated into a State of Conservation report to be presented to the Committee next year.
Australian Marine Conservation Society campaign manager Dr Lissa Schindler said the decision is deeply concerning.
“If Australia wants to protect the Reef and keep it off the World Heritage in danger list, then the number one thing it must do is adopt reef-safe climate policies,” Dr Schindler said.
The Society is calling on both the state and federal governments to meet their requests within the next six months.
