Great Barrier Reef
What is a coral reef?
Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef?
Importance?
The Great Barrier Reef is significant for its scientific value: the health of the Reef points to the health of the ocean, and the creeks and rivers that feed into it, as well as signifying the general effects of pollution. It is of considerable concern that numbers of unique species such as dugong and loggerhead turtles have declined significantly since the 1960s, largely due to human intervention. The Reef shelters many endangered species.
On an economic note, the Great Barrier Reef generates $AU2 billion in tourism dollars every year. All countries trade on their commodities, and tourism is one of Australia's.
Protecting the reef has benefits beyond conservation - it is also an investment in the continued security of coastal communities and provides significant benefits to the Australian economy.
Reef industries, such as tourism and fishing, which contribute approximately $5.4 billion annually to the Australian economy and employ about 63,000 people, are reliant on a healthy environment.To lose the reef would be to lose an enormous source of trade for Australia.
Region
threats to health?
Conservation- the careful utilization of a natural resource in order to prevent depletion.
Restoration - the act of restoring; renewal, revival
Unique stuff
The Great Barrier Reef covers an overall area that is larger than the size of Italy
- The Great Barrier Reef draws over a million visitors from all over the world each year
- Around 10 percent of the world’s total fish species can be found just within the Great Barrier Reef