Indiscriminate mining in Australia has become an exponential threat to the world's largest coral reef formation, The Great Barrier Reef.

1. Indiscriminate Economic Activity
Threatens Future of the Great
Barrier Reef
- Vanessa Picker

2. Great Barrier Reef in Danger
• The Australian Government has been slammed by a UN
environmental team sent by the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
for mismanagement of the Great Barrier Reef.
• In their findings, the UN team has expressed ‘extreme’
concern over existing and future industrial and mining
initiatives, which are significantly threatening the Great
Barrier Reef’s World Heritage Status.
• The extent of the imminent threat is exemplified as the Reef
could be listed as a world heritage site ‘in danger’ as early as
next February, in the absence of substantial progress.

3. From industrialization to destruction
• Although the Australian government has previously adopted
some high- quality practices, there has been a continuous
decline of many parts of the Reef.
• This is largely because the North Eastern state of
Queensland, where the reef is located, is one of the fastest
developing regions, thus industrial development is
widespread.
• Coal mining operations are being undertaken onshore, which
has prompted criticism from many critics in recent years.
• This criticism was particularly strong earlier in 2010, when a
Chinese coal carrier slammed into part of the reef, causing
significant damage.

4. • In addition to strong criticism from the UN, Greenpeace
recently noted that the Reef is under threat primarily from
‘reckless industrialisation’. 35 development applications have
been submitted, each seeking approval within the next 18
months.
• Each of these could further undermine the protection of the
Reef. This significantly detracts from the image of Australia in
relation to the management of rich heritages.
• Despite this, Gina Rinehart and Clive Palmer, two leading
industrialists in the Australian mining industry are continuing
with plans to industrialize the reef.

5. Tourism thrashed
• These recent developments could have widespread
implications, ultimately affecting Australia’s reputation and
also the tourism industry, as the popularity of the Reef may
decline.
• Currently, tourism is a major contributor to the economy of
Queensland.
• Evidently, the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area is a
major tourism attraction.
• The sustainability of the tourism industry depends largely on
the quality of the experience for visitors, which would
ultimately decline if the Reef cannot be maintained.

6. Significant action- Need of the hour!
• Recent polls released by Getup.org have also shown that 79%
of Australians are currently concerned about the expansion of
mining initiatives along the Reef’s recognised heritage area.
• In the absence of significant progress, the Great Barrier
Reef, the world’s largest coral reef formation, will be listed as
a world heritage site ‘under danger’.
• Key recommendations from UNESCO include the limitation
of future port infrastructure plans, to ‘existing and long
established’ ports in the region, and the establishment of
clear, legal targets for the maintenance of the reef’s
condition.

7. • Read detailed report on Indiscriminate Economic Activity
Threatens Future of the Great Barrier Reef on
http://bit.ly/MbQu4r