The
Great Barrier Reef is considered one of the great wonders of the world and was granted World Heritage status in 1981. It's the largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,600 kilometres (1,600 mi) over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres (133,000 sq mi). The reef is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, Australia.
The Great Barrier Reef can be seen from outer space and is the world's biggest single structure made by living organisms. Author Patricia Schultz lists The Great Barrier Reef on page 522 of her book 1,000 Places To See Before You Die.
The statistics and history are impressive but let's take a look at the incredible beauty which lies beneath the sea off the coast of Australia.
But all is not well at one of The Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Read more about why below the fold.
Gerard Witterburn Bisshop at The World Preservation Foundation connects the dots:
At least, the reef used to be amazing, but the report card released in July 2013 has now downgraded the health of the Great Barrier Reef to “poor”. 72% of the reef’s hard coral has died since the 1960′s, leading UNESCO to question government protection and consider revoking its World Heritage status. The poor health of the reef, and proposed dredging for a new coal handling port has led Greenpeace to embark on a campaign to motivate state and federal governments to do more for its protection.
We know that as the oceans grow more acidic this weakens calcium formation of shells and coral. Also, much has been said on the outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish – these voracious creatures eat live coral, leaving behind white, dead coral, that soon turns green as algae make it their new home. [...]
Great Barrier Reef; Eddy's Reef off Mission Beach
The real reasons for the degradation of this amazing reef (including the reason for outbreaks of starfish numbers) has been well studied by the Queensland government, and found not to be climate change, but pollution, mainly from the Burdekin and Fitzroy rivers, the largest rivers flowing into the reef. What's killing the reef (in order of importance):
. Fine silt (the major coral killer), over 75 percent of which comes from grazing lands
. Nitrogen pollution, mostly particulate, from sediment erosion of grazing lands
. Phosphorous pollution, mostly particulate, from sediment erosion of grazing lands
Nitrogen and phosphorous nutrient increases are the major cause of crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks. Minor sources of pollution were dissolved nitrogen and phosphorous from sugarcane production, as well as herbicides and pesticides, also from farming.
Great Barrier Reef; Eddy's Reef off Mission Beach
Australia's livestock production is a large domestic and export industry with the majority cattle grazed on low productivity rangelands, that is destined for export markets as lower value "industrial" beef (i.e. hamburger beef). The industry has resisted plans to improve pollution levels.
To save our planet and it's natural resources we must somehow find a way to bridge the disconnect between consumption and destruction.