Great Barrier Reef Not Listed as Endangered World Heritage Site; Australian Government Welcomes Decision

(CNA Sydney, July 4 - Reuters) Australia's Assistant Minister for Tourism said today that although the ecosystem of the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef, is still struggling with coral bleaching, the draft resolution by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) not to list the Great Barrier Reef as an endangered heritage site is welcomed by Australia.

According to Reuters, although UN scientists had previously recommended its inclusion, the Great Barrier Reef, which has experienced multiple mass coral bleaching events in recent years, has not yet been listed as an endangered World Heritage site by UNESCO.

For years, the Australian government has lobbied to prevent the Great Barrier Reef from being placed on the endangered list, as such a move could impact the tourism industry. The Great Barrier Reef attracts over 2 million visitors annually and contributes more than AUD 9 billion (approximately NT$203.3 billion) to the Australian economy each year.

According to Agence France-Presse, a draft report released by UNESCO in Paris on the 3rd stated that Australia is working to address issues such as climate change, water quality, sustainable fisheries management, and land clearing.

UNESCO pointed out: "While the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef is still evident, its capacity to withstand and recover from events like coral bleaching is increasingly compromised, which is deeply concerning."

Last year, Australia amended its laws to strengthen restrictions on clearing native vegetation within the Great Barrier Reef catchment area, but UNESCO still called for stricter measures against dredging and overfishing.

Assistant Minister for Tourism Nita Green said that the decision made last night by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre "affirms Australia's ongoing efforts to protect and manage this important landmark."

Green told reporters in a televised interview in the capital, Canberra: "Australia welcomes UNESCO's decision not to list the Great Barrier Reef as endangered and acknowledges all efforts made by all parties to protect the Great Barrier Reef."

The Great Barrier Reef is located off the coast of Queensland in northern Australia, stretching for about 2,400 kilometers and supporting 400 species of coral and 1,500 species of fish.

Since 2016, the Great Barrier Reef has experienced mass coral bleaching during five summers. At that time, due to heat stress, large areas of coral turned white, and the risk of death increased. The Queensland government stated that climate change is the main cause of rising sea temperatures, which in turn leads to coral bleaching. (Compiled by Chang Hsiao-wen) 1150704

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