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Great Barrier Reef should be left off 'in danger' list: UNESCO

Great Barrier Reef should be left off 'in danger' list: UNESCO

United Nations conservation agency UNESCO has recommended the Great Barrier Reef should not be placed on the World Heritage ‘in danger’ list.

The decision provides relief for Queensland and Federal Governments, as an ‘in danger’ listing could be potentially disastrous for the tourism industry.

ABC News reports the draft decision from UNESCO flagged concerns about the poor outlook for the reef.

It warned if progress was not made, the area could be declared "in danger" in the future.

The 21 nations on UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee will make the call in a few weeks whether to accept the decision.

One of the Committee’s requirements was to create a Long Term Sustainability Plan for the reef.

The Reef 2050 report highlights that climate change is the biggest long-term threat to the reef, as warming oceans cause coral bleaching.

The Federal Government has committed $140m to the Reef Trust.

This will be invested in projects to improve water quality and costal habitat as well as dealing with the issue of crown-of-thorns starfish.

The Queensland State Government has also offered $100m over five years to be spent on the reef.


News break - May 29