A UN panel has recommended that Australia's Great Barrier Reef be listed as a World Heritage Site

Tags: Environment International News

A United Nations panel recommended on November 29, 2022 that Australia's Great Barrier Reef should be listed as a World Heritage Site that is "in danger".

Important facts

• The world's largest coral reef ecosystem has been greatly affected by climate change and ocean warming.

• Frequent bleaching events and La Nina are threatening the reef.

• Bleaching occurs when water gets too warm, causing corals to expel the colourful algae living in their tissues and turn white.

• Australia's recently elected government has pledged to spend A$1.2 billion ($800 million) over the coming years to protect the reef.

What are Coral reefs?

• Coral reefs are one of the most biologically diverse marine ecosystems on Earth.

• They play an important role in marine ecosystems and support habitats for flora and fauna in the ocean.

• Each coral is called a polyp and thousands of such polyps live together to form a colony.

About Great Barrier Reef

• It extends for 1400 miles along the north-east coast of Queensland, Australia and is the world's most extensive and rich coral reef ecosystem.

• It is made up of more than 2,900 reefs and more than 900 islands.

• It is the largest single structure in the world made by living organisms.

• This reef was selected as a World Heritage Site in 1981.