Horse, Door Barn, Etc. Oz Government Considering Stronger Measures To Protect Great Barrier Reef

[hatrack]

Australian officials plan to redouble their efforts to save the Great Barrier Reef from the effects of global warming. The world’s largest coral reef system is under threat from rising ocean temperatures, ocean acidification and violent tropical weather. Scientists also have struggled to contain outbreaks of the crown-of-thorns starfish, a polyp-eating predator that can threaten the reef’s health.

In response to these dangers, Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment is floating a 30-year plan to protect the natural wonder. The proposal calls for controlling surface runoff and shore-based water pollution that can harm the reef, along with improved coastal infrastructure planning. The draft also outlines rehabilitation efforts to be taken out to 2050. The Australian and Queensland governments are planning to spend up to $2 billion over the course of a decade as part of an initial phase of reef protection and recovery efforts. The new draft plan was opened for public comments last week.

EDIT

Harmful bleaching episodes at the Great Barrier Reef occurred in 2016 and 2017. The most recent bleaching event happened earlier this year during the Southern Hemisphere summer. Its impact is still being assessed.

“In 2020, severe bleaching was more widespread than in previous bleaching events in 2016 and 2017,” the draft plan notes. “While major tourism areas of the Reef mostly had negligible or moderate bleaching in 2020, areas in the southern part of the Reef that escaped much of the impact in 2016 and 2017 were severely affected by this third event.”

EDIT

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/australia-floats-plan-to-better-protect-great-barrier-reef/

[Mickju]

1. I fear that their mitigation efforts will be inadequate.

There is already massive damage to the reef and climate change will continue to worsen.