GREAT BARRIER REEF 2 WORLD HERITAGE RISK

The Great Barrier Reef of Australia is a major tourist attraction. In addition, it has a World Heritage listing by UNESCO. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the modern world. This unit follows on from the unit entitled “ The Great Barrier Reef -Part 1 -Major Threats.”.
During 2015 UNESCO representatives arrived in Australia to gather information about the condition of the reef the Australian and Queensland governments were alerted to the possibility of the Reef losing its World Heritage status. The wider impacts on the economy and the employment prospects along the coastal areas were recognised and discussed. If the Reef lost its World Heritage status loss of tourist potential would occur. This unit considers some of the responses. As 2020s approached the outlook for the Great Barrier Reef did not appear promising. The COVID outbreak (2019->) reduced tourist numbers. Reports of reef damage indicated that the health of sections of the reef were suffering decline. By 2022 it seemed inevitable that the Reef would lose its World Heritage status. In the summer of 2022-2023 more promising observations were recorded. Sections of severely damaged reef provided examples of new coral growth. The UNESCO representatives decided to push its decision deadline from 2023 to 2030. The Reef was put on a “Wwait, observe and decide policy”.
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is affected by broader global issues of “warming” and “climate change”.