Australia's federal government is set to make its largest-ever investment in saving the Great Barrier Reef, announcing an additional $1 billion towards improving water quality, reef management and research.
Photo: 123rf
The government hopes the funding will help protect more than 64,000 jobs and $6.4b in tourism dollars attached to the reef economy.
More than half of the funding will go towards improving water quality through remediating erosion, improving land condition and reducing nutrient and pesticide run-off.
Environment Minister Sussan Ley said the $1b package would be managed by her department and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and would be delivered through local communities and industries, including traditional owners.
"Our farmers, tourism operators and fishers are our reef champions and we are supporting them through practical water and land-based strategies that will contribute significantly to the health of the reef," Ley said.
Reef still faces 'in danger' listing
The federal government has faced calls to increase its efforts to preserve the Great Barrier Reef, since UNESCO warned last year it intended to list the reef as "in danger".
The government successfully staved off an immediate listing, but the reef still faces the prospect of being listed as 'in danger'.
The World Heritage Committee has asked UNESCO to undertake a monitoring mission but Ley said they had not yet visited Australia.
"I've written to UNESCO, I've invited the reactive monitoring mission to come and look forward to further correspondence indicating that they will visit," she told the ABC.
Heart Reef, a unique coral formation in the Great Barrier Reef Photo: 123RF
"I look forward to the reactive monitoring mission coming to Australia and seeing for themselves how our reef communities are working hard, are practising the strongest possible reef management."
The federal government was also required to submit a report to UNESCO by next month that outlines how it is protecting the reef and Ley said the report was on track to be sent soon.
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's chair has previously warned the health of the reef will continue to deteriorate without climate action.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Great Barrier Reef was "the best-managed reef in the world", and the new funding was on top of $2b already invested in its sustainability plan.
"We are backing the health of the reef and the economic future of tourism operators, hospitality providers and Queensland communities that are at the heart of the reef economy," Morrison said.
The government said it would direct scientific research funding to projects such as coral seeding, reef stabilisation, the development of heat-resistant coral and climate adaptation work with turtles and other marine species.
- ABC