UNESCO and IUCN have just released a draft decision for the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). The decision proposes not to list the GBR “In danger” as many expected.  However, given the many threats that still face the GBR, this article suggests several aspects of the decision that need to be stronger to maintain the World Heritage values.

Jon Day from the ARC Centre for Coral Reef Studies at JCU has published his views, including a brief analysis of the draft decision, in The Conversation.

Jon concludes that irrespective of the World Heritage Committee’s final decision next month, Australia must do more to address the wide range of the threats identified in its own reports, and show a genuine commitment to restoring the values of the GBR for the sake of future generations.

The draft decision puts Australia on notice and requests a progress report by 1 December 2016, vowing that if “the anticipated progress is not being made”, the GBR will be considered by the WH Committee in 2017.

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