Australia must step up its efforts to hope to avoid the classification of the Great Barrier Reef among the sites "in danger" of the world heritage, according to an expert report released Monday.
According to two experts from Unesco and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the degradation of the site continues under the combined effects of global warming and various pollution linked to agriculture and fishing.
The Great Barrier Reef is one of Australia's top tourist attractions and its listing as an '
at risk
' site could significantly tarnish its appeal to international visitors.
The reef generates 600,000 jobs and 3.9 billion euros in revenue each year, the Australian Marine Conservation Society has estimated.
Australia had avoided in July 2021 that UNESCO put the Great Barrier Reef on its list of World Heritage Sites in Danger, despite the concern of the scientific community over the degradation of this unique ecosystem.
The World Heritage Committee had decided to postpone such a decision, after intense lobbying by Australia.
Problematic water quality
"
Despite unprecedented scientific and management efforts in recent years
" made by Australia, "
the Outstanding Universal Value of the area is significantly affected by climate change factors
," says the new report.
The site's ability to withstand these impacts is “
substantially compromised
”, particularly – but not exclusively – due to degradation of water quality.
And all the measures and projects to deal with it “
lack clear objectives
” and “
are not fully implemented
”, deplore the experts.
Read alsoThe Great Barrier Reef threatened with extinction
According to the authors of the report, "
while significant efforts have been made to reduce the runoff of nitrates and phosphates (...), there is a need to ensure a greater reduction of these pollutants in the next three years than what has been accomplished since 2009
.
Unesco had sounded the alarm over the deterioration of the Great Barrier Reef for the first time in 2010. In 2021, members of the Committee, including China, Russia and Saudi Arabia, had estimated that Canberra should be given more time to take stock of its conservation efforts.
One step too far?
Australian Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek acknowledged on Tuesday that the reef was under threat, but said putting it on UNESCO's list of "
in danger
" world heritage sites would be a step too far.
“
We will make it clear to Unesco that there is no need to single out the Great Barrier Reef in this way
,” she told reporters.
"
If this World Heritage Site is in danger, then most World Heritage Sites in the world are in danger from climate change,
" she said.
Read alsoThe Great Barrier Reef threatened by global warming
“
A constructive dialogue is underway with the current government
” of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, underlined Unesco.
The May elections had ousted the conservative coalition of Scott Morrison from power.
In May, Australian scientists reported that 91% of corals on the reef had been damaged by bleaching after a prolonged summer heat wave.
A next meeting of the UNESCO committee is scheduled in principle for mid-2023 where the first results of these measures can be examined.