The existence of the Great Barrier Reef is under threat, according to the Australian Government

The future of the Great Barrier Reef, a unique natural site inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List, it looks bleak, according to the report of the Australian Government, which is published every five years. The document lists the measures taken by the authorities to protect this ecosystem, as well as attempts to persuade UNESCO does not make a popular tourist attraction in the list of objects, which are endangered, reports Reuters.

“Despite all the steps taken to reduce risks and enhance resilience to external shocks, the state of the Great Barrier Reef in 2009 only worsened and on current projections will continue to worsen in the future,” – said in a government statement.

The main threats to the document called polluted runoff from farms, breeding sea stars, known as the “crown of thorns” (which feed on reef-building corals), and climate change. Government has also recognized that the danger is shipping and scooping soil in the area.

In recent years, the “green” tried to draw attention to the planned expansion of coal seaport, which would require additional changes to the soil and dumping of sand near the reef.

In this document, the Government argues that it is not allowed to carry out any work in the ports of Queensland outside the existing ones. It should be noted that they include Abbott Point, where the company Adani Group and GVK had planned a large-scale expansion , and Gladstone – port cargo turnover to rise sharply in 2015 due to the start of operation of plants for the production of liquefied gas.

Environmentalists believe that climate change, which refers to the government, due to coal mining in the region.

At the Doha meeting, which was held in June, the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO has postponed until next year a decision on the inclusion of the Great Barrier Reef in the list of objects that are threatened by destruction. At the request of the organization Australia must provide an updated and expanded report on the state of the reef by 1 February 2015.

Great Barrier Reef – the largest coral reef in the world, stretching over a distance of 2,300 km along the east coast of Australia. Its area is more than 300, 000 square kilometers. It is also the largest facility in the world, formed by living organisms, and is clearly visible from space.

In 1981, UNESCO has made it to the list of World Heritage sites.Nevertheless, for various reasons, from 1985 to 2012, lost more than half the reef corals that form the structure.