- The UNESCO world heritage committee at their annual meet at Doha have expressed concern over the Australian govt’s approval to the dumping of dredged materials into the Great Barrier Reef world heritage site.
- The approval was give for the expansion of the Abbot Point coal port, which lies on the fringes of the reef.
- It also warned the country that the reef would be added to the World Heritage in Danger list if alternate less impacting developmental and disposal options are not implemented.
- The dumping is likely to have adverse effects on the reef as it survives on a delicate symbiosis between its plants and animals. This is threatened by the agricultural run off and cyclones. In the last 3 decades the coral cover on the reef has fallen by 50%.
- Australia promises that it will bring about 150% overall improvement which will offset the adverse effects of the dredging. However, it failed to explain how it plans to bring about the improvement.
- Australia was lauded for its efforts to increase the quality of the water in the reef which led to it seeking the UNESCO dropping the consideration of the site as threatened.
- The country was also asked to reconsider its decision of transferring oversight of environmental decisions from the federal government to the Queensland state government.
- Read at: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/un-alarmed-over-dumping-in-great-barrier-reef/article6131916.ece
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