UNESCO CONCERNED OVER REEF The permit to dump 3 million cubic metres of mud within the marine park could place at risk the World Heritage-listing of the Great Barrier Reef, one of Australia's top tourist attractions. Millions of cubic metres of dredged mud to be dumped near the fragile reef to create the world's biggest coal port. UNESCO, which awarded the reef its heritage listing, last year postponed a decision to June 2014 on whether to put the Great Barrier Reef on its "in danger" list or even cancel its World Heritage listing. It is awaiting a report from the national government on steps taken to address its concerns. The reef authority on Friday urged the state and national governments and industry to come up with a new sustainable ports plan that would reduce the need for dredging along the reef. The reef authority imposed strict conditions on the dumping permit, including no environmental, cultural or heritage damage to areas beyond 20 km (12 miles) from the disposal site, and urged the ports corporation to consider other dump sites. Environmentalists, scientists and tour operators had fought the plan to dump soil 25 km from the reef, which they fear will harm delicate corals and seagrasses and potentially double ship traffic through the World Heritage marine park. http://climatestate.com/forums/topic/australia-permits-dredge-dumping-near-great-barrier-reef-for-major-coal-port/
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12 Comments
Thanks for sharing this article. I sincerely hope that this beautiful ecosystem escapes damage due to mindless human action. Hope the authorities act in time.
Posted 07-02-2014 01:20
thankyou Arushi and Rohan
Posted 06-02-2014 15:14
All efforts must be made in order to protect these beautiful corals.
Posted 04-02-2014 20:02
I really dislike Australia's decision to dump large amounts of mud and sediment into the oceans surrounding the Great Barrier Reef . This will endanger one of the world's most fragile ecosystems. Sure , fragile reef will be gravely threatened by the dredging. Thanks for sharing this report.
Posted 04-02-2014 16:26
Thanks Christy.agreed Gaa Bhin Ryu .
Posted 04-02-2014 02:06
Coral reefs are turning white these days..
This is a serious problem because the coral-friendly fish like the clown fish
and cloral are supposed to interact with each other. You know, the fish live in the coral (shelter) and drags in biggerfish (coral's food). The coral uses its polyps to eat the big fish.
Nowadays, the little fish can't drag in the big ones, so the coral can't support them..and without the right factors of sunlight and all, they are whitening out!
Posted 03-02-2014 23:14
Thanks for sharing the article, it should stop to prevent further destroy of coral reef... It's terrible...
Posted 03-02-2014 17:28
Raunak, How anyone can destroy such a beauty of nature?Isn't it.
Posted 03-02-2014 14:33
Thanks Nitish,Smiriti
Posted 03-02-2014 14:31
In fact Nature has made this beautiful reef in millions of years. Humans can not destroy in 50-60 years.
Posted 02-02-2014 21:09
Thanks for sharing. I hope the laws and stakeholders will protect this beautiful reef.
Posted 02-02-2014 12:05
Thanks for sharing!
Posted 02-02-2014 08:40