The Great Barrier Reef – AT SCHOOL

KINGDOM OF CORAL

Home to the world's largest coral reef ecosystem, the Great Barrier Reef extends over 2,000 km into the Pacific Ocean along the Queensland coast. in Australia. In addition to nearly 3,000 individual reefs of different shapes and sizes, the reef includes several hundred islands – making it a hotspot for biodiversity that nurtures an amazing variety of plants and animals. The reef is home to more than 400 types of corals, 1,500 species of fish, 5,000 types of molluscs and 200 species of birds. In 1981, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its "Outstanding Universal Natural Values" and until now, it has been the largest World Heritage area.

However, the reef continues to hold people around the world. the fear and generates a billion Australian dollars a year, is very threatened. In recent decades, global warming has resulted in coral bleaching (which may or may not cause coral mortality). More recently, an aerial survey found that unprecedented coral bleaching in 2016 and 2017 affected nearly two-thirds of corals, giving injured people little chance of recovery. In addition, other factors such as industrialization, overfishing and the lack of very strict rules for safeguarding the region have endangered the reef. Although several measures have been considered and initiated for its protection, much remains to be done in a very short time if the Reef can still be there for generations to come.

WHY IS IT UNIQUE?

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and collectively the largest living creature on our planet. It extends over an area of ​​more than three square kilometers. – making it bigger than some countries! Is it any wonder then that the reef is the only living creature that can be seen from outer space?

MARINE LIFE

Thanks to the extraordinary diversity in terms of habitats and species, the reef is one of the most complex natural ecosystems in the world. It is home to a staggering number of marine creatures. As an ideal underwater competitor for the Big Five of Africa, the reef is home to the Big Eight – clownfish, sharks, manta rays, maori wrbades, cod, giant clams, turtles and more. whales. The reef is considered one of the best places to spot sea turtles since six of the seven species of sea turtles in the world are found here. The reef also has a scientific significance for being dugong habitat (cows sea) very endangered.

DID YOU KNOW?

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IN DANGER OR NOT:
Last year, UNESCO published its "List of World Heritage in Danger" comprising 55 entries, including several natural wonders. Although this list did not include the Great Barrier Reef, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee has expressed concern about the future of the reef. Under world criticism for not doing enough to protect the Reef, the Australian government received the news with a lot of relief, called it a "great victory" and felt the decision was supportive for its efforts of conservation. Meanwhile, the decision to exclude the reef from the list has dismayed and perplexed many environmental advocates, many of whom have pointed out that the Australian government does not remove fossil fuel subsidies nor does it "neat" the reef. banned new coal mines.

TO CORALLIVORE:
One of the most destructive marine creatures in the region is the starfish from the crown of thorns, a corallivore that blows its way through the coral, destroying them on a large scale. This fish is native to the reef, but their numbers may increase to leave behind the devastation. In 2017, thousands of these stars were discovered on the Swain Reefs – located at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef – and volunteer divers would have eliminated several thousand during an operation that lasted more than a week.

As a good underwater competitor of the Big Five of Africa, the reef houses the Big Eight – clownfish, sharks, manta rays, maori, cod, clams, turtles and whales.