Source : Perth Now news
The iconic Great Barrier Reef has again dodged an “in danger” tag but the United Nations World Heritage Committee warns more work needs to be done.
Both the federal and Queensland state governments have welcomed the decision not to list the Great Barrier Reef on the endangered site, despite its ongoing struggles with the coral reef ecosystem.
The tourist attraction has long been under pressure from climate change and polluted run-off, with repeated bleaching events threatening its UNESCO World Heritage status.
The most recent events occurred in 2024 and 2025, with the UN body saying it raised “utmost concern” over the site’s declining coral cover after mass bleaching events in 2024 and 2025.
”While the resilience of the Reef remains evident, its capacity to tolerate and recover from such events is increasingly compromised,” the committee wrote.
The draft decision will be considered by the World Heritage Committee in a matter of weeks.
While the site has not been put on the “in danger” list, Australia will have to produce a new statement to the UN in 2028 about the reefs health.
Various Australian governments have lobbied for years to keep the reef, as it adds around $9bn alone in tourism dollars from more than two million visitors a year and supports around 77,000 jobs.
It was first listed as a World Heritage Site in 1981, but is in danger of losing this status, should the threats from climate and water pollution continue.
Chief among those concerns is land clearing in catchment areas flowing into the reef, with the Albanese government late last year requiring as part of its Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act reforms federal assessment for land clearing within 50m of waterways leading into the reef catchment area.
Both the federal and state governments took credit for the reef not being listed as “in danger”.
In a statement environment minister Murray Watt said the announcement was an acknowledgment of the work Australia has done to protect the reef.
“We will continue to build on our actions, leverage strong partnerships, and use our world-leading Reef management to support the Great Barrier Reef’s resilience into the future,” Minister Watt said in a statement to the ABC.
Meanwhile, the Queensland government said it remained focused on protecting the Reef for future generations, spruiks its record $330.5m invested in the budget, which will improve water quality, support practical action across Reef catchments and deliver the Reef 2050 Catchment Water Quality Strategy.
Queensland Environment and Tourism Minister Andrew Powell also said the draft decision recognised the efforts of the state working to protect the Reef for future generations
“Queenslanders care deeply about the Reef and we welcome the draft decision because it recognises the progress being made to conserve it,” Minister Powell said.
“Our focus remains on practical action and delivering outcomes that protect the Reef and support the regional communities and jobs that depend on it.
“That’s why we’re continuing to invest in practical action that protects the Reef and the communities and businesses that rely on it.”
