The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has declared Australia's Great Barrier Reef to be out of the "in danger" list.
The World Heritage Committee of UNESCO met on Wednesday, and all the members agreed that the world heritage site remains unaltered but also iterated that Australia must carry out measures to stop further damage and exhibit effective implementation of progress plans before 2016 ends.
Climate change, development of industrial stations and water pollution still concern the committee despite Australia's impressive display of efforts to protect the reef. With this, environmental organizations Greenpeace and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) told the committee that they will continue to be vigilant especially because of Australia's apparent support for the coal industry and the strained signs that the government is showing in terms of auditing the water quality in the reef.
Australia has exerted its best efforts to address the concerns of the committee, said Maria Böhmer, committee chairwoman. The financial engagements made by the country were a resolute basis for protecting and preserving the world heritage site. Australia, however, must regard this ruling not as the end of the battle, but rather the start of a new endeavor, she adds.
The committee will be watching over how the country will implement its strategies, and Böhmer believes that Australia will take this challenge with great intensity.
The committee praised the country's efforts to reduce the installation of new ports along the Queensland shore; prohibit the disposal of increasing spoilage into the water; and decrease drainage pollution by 80 percent within a period of 10 years. Germany emphasized the effects of continuous junking practices brought about by existing ports. Finland adds that the expanding shipping transactions are also points of concern.
Australia understood the concerns raised by the World Heritage Committee and key persons involved have done their best to implement all the recommendations as stated, said Greg Hunt, environment minister of Australia.
"In fact, the committee's and in particular Germany's interest and advice on the reef, has allowed us to do in 18 months what might otherwise have taken a decade," he stated.
Still, there are more issues waiting to be addressed.
Some of which "the [State] Government's been sweeping under the carpet that need to be properly dealt with or in 18 months we will face this same peril of having the list of shame brought down on our reef," said Larissa Waters, Greens Deputy Leader. It is a significant move for the government to declare that offshore dumping of dredge waste will be banned, considering that they approved this move 18 months ago. At present, the persons concerned should complete their tasks and avert the disposal of maintenance dredging, she said.
Photo: Paul Toogood | Flickr
