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The United Nations cultural agency had recommended that the Great Barrier Reef be placed on its endangered list. AFP
Oz’s Reef sees more coral, but still at risk
Mon, 19 July 2021
The Great Barrier Reef’s outlook remains “very poor” despite coral recovery over the past year, Australian government scientists said on July 19, just days before a UNESCO ruling on the site’s world heritage status.
The UN cultural agency recommended last month that the world’s largest reef system be placed on its endangered list because of damage to the corals largely caused by climate change.
The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) said the corals were currently in a “recovery window” after a reprieve that followed a decade of harmful heat stress and cyclones.
Date Time
Reef in recovery window after decade of disturbances
After a series of severe and widespread disturbances over the last decade, the Great Barrier Reef is currently in a recovery window with coral cover rising in all three regions.
Published today, the Australian Institute of Marine Science’s (AIMS) Long-Term Monitoring Program – Annual Summary Report on Coral Reef Condition for 2020/21 shows after a year’s reprieve, with no major pressures from heat stress or cyclones, widespread recovery is underway.
AIMS CEO Dr Paul Hardisty said AIMS’ 35-year history of monitoring the Reef shows increases in coral cover are expected during periods of low disturbance.
Last modified on Mon 19 Jul 2021 01.26 EDT
The Chinese host of a United Nations world heritage committee has defended a proposal to label the Great Barrier Reef as âin dangerâ, and rejected Australian government suspicion that China influenced the finding for political reasons.
It came as the Morrison government sought to use a new report by Australiaâs marine science agency to argue there had been widespread coral recovery on the reef.
The report, by the Australian Institute of Marine Science, found coral coverage along the 2,300km reef had increased after a year of benign conditions without high ocean temperature or cyclones.
Great Barrier Reef coral has recovered, but scientists say the outlook still remains very poor indiatimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from indiatimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.