Reef or rubble - Saving the Reef starts now with a $300m investment
09 Aug 2007
The Great Barrier Reef currently receives over 14 million tonnes of chemical and mud pollution every year and has been identified by the International Panel on Climate Change as being significantly threatened by rising water temperatures.
Over 90 per cent of the pollution landing on the Reef is from loss of farm soil and chemicals. Pesticide residues, including Diuron and Attrazine, have been found in crabs and offshore in the feeding grounds of turtles and dugongs.
"The Federal Government must act now to give the Reef its best chance of avoiding future degradation," said WWF-Australia Program Leader Nick Heath.
"Substantial new investment is critical to accelerate the take-up of world's-best farming practice in the most polluting catchments along the Great Barrier Reef coast," he said.
Recent analysis shows pollution to the Reef can be reduced by 50 per cent with a public investment of $300 million and a private industry co-investment of $340 million.
"Reducing pollution load is possible and will help save the Reef, as well as the 60,000 tourism jobs based around the Reef."
A University of North Carolina study released yesterday confirms world-wide large-scale degradation of coral reefs, including the Great Barrier Reef.
The study surveyed 6,000 sites over four decades, and found coral reefs are vanishing at five times the rate of the world's rainforests.
"Reefs are one of the world's most climate sensitive ecosystems and face regular bleaching episodes with rising water temperatures," said Mr Heath.
"With other stresses such as pollution impacting heavily, reefs are now some of the most threatened ecosystems on Earth.
"The next Australian Government will decide the future of the Great Barrier Reef."
Find out more
Charlie Stevens, Press Officer, WWF-Australia
Phone: 02 8202 1274
Mobile: 0424 649 689
Email: cstevens@wwf.org.au
Nick Heath, Program Leader for Water, WWF-Australia
Mobile: 041 888 5324
