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The Great Barrier Reef was hit by coral bleaching and coral-eating coral thorns starfish, which proliferated due to pollution and agricultural runoff
Australia is failing to protect the Great Barrier Reef from the effects of clearing, environmental groups said Monday and called on the UN to investigate the alleged failures.
Canberra is committed to redoubling efforts to protect the reef, as it is devastated by massive coral bleaching and starfish coralliform spines that proliferate due to pollution and agricultural runoff.
But the groups said the federal government has failed to stop a key threat to the World Heritage List area – the impending bulldozer of vast tracts of land in the reef watersheds.
Experts have warned that deforestation increases runoff in the reef, reducing the quality of water and light needed for coral growth, while feeding the epidemics of sea stars from the coral reefs. 39; thorns.
In a letter to the United Nations, the Wilderness Society, WWF-Australia, the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Australian Marine Conservation Society requested an urgent inquiry while the annual meeting of the World Heritage Committee of the United States UNESCO begins in Bahrain.
"Allowing this clearing to take place does not match the promises the Australian government has made to the international community to protect and restore the Great Barrier Reef," said Kelly O. Shanassy, director of the Great Barrier Reef. Australian Conservation Foundation.
Environmental advocates said some 36,600 hectares of ancient forest – about half of Bahrain – were destined to be cut in reef pools under permits issued by the former Queensland government, but that Canberra had the power to stop them from going forward.
Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg refuted the allegations and said that the responsibility for planning and approving land clearing rests with the states.
He added that Canberra had won "significant praise" from the UN for a $ 2.0 billion ($ 1.5 billion) "Reef 2050" plan to protect the reef.
"In addition to this investment, the government has also invested an additional A $ 500 million, representing the largest investment in the protection and restoration of reefs in the history of Australia," said Mr. Frydenberg in a statement.
Most of the new A $ 500 million – just over A $ 200 million – announced in April was aimed at improving water quality by changing farming practices and adopting new technologies and improving the quality of water. land management.
Last year, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee decided not to place the reef on its list of "endangered" sites despite concerns about massive bleaching, citing conservation plans for Canberra.
The Great Barrier Reef is one of Australia's best-known natural wonders and stretches for over 2,300 kilometers (1,400 miles) along the northeast coast.
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