A few tens of millions has promised the Australian government to invest in order to the coral reefs of the Great Barrier Reef to the rescue. Nice, but, if we want to save, then that will not be enough, fear the environmentalists.
The government of prime minister Malcolm Turnbull announced earlier this week that they are 60 million Australian dollars (40 million euros) to invest in the rescue of the famous Great Barrier Reef. The …
The government of prime minister Malcolm Turnbull announced earlier this week that they are 60 million Australian dollars (40 million euros) to invest in the rescue of the famous Great Barrier Reef. The largest part of that money will go to initiatives to prevent polluting products from the agricultural industry, for example, in the water. Another part will be used for the fight against the crowns made of thorns starfish, the coral reef ‘eat’.
And then, there are still funds for research and development programs. “It is extremely important that we take on this challenge and recognize that technology and science provide us with the answers can give’, said prime minister Turnbull.
More than a tan only
That will be necessary, because the great coral reef off the northeast coast of Australia is there, not the best. In 2016, faded coral noticeable, and also last year, that was the case. It is the first time in history that that fading two years after the other took place. Also for 2018, it looks not good: the process is this year much earlier underway and it is expected that the coming months will only get worse.
That the reef of colors changing, is more than a mere cosmetic matter: it is a phenomenon that occurs when the temperature of the water increases, which causes the colorful algae the coral drain. A reef can survive that, but since algae is a major source of energy for the coral dies that coral if it happens too often.
The Great Barrier Reef – with an area larger than Italy – is not only environmentally important, it is also one of the main tourist attractions of Australia and in that way $ 6.4 billion (4.2 billion euros) per year into the treasury.
Biggest culprits are left untouched
According to environmental organisations, it is sufficient the plan, however, not to the reef to save. They are not tender for Turnbull. Yes, the quality of the contaminated water and the threat by organisms such as the crown of thorns are indeed a problem, they admit, but the biggest threat is the rising temperature of the oceans. And shoot Turnbull is grossly deficient, activists say.
The government does not invest in the reduction of the dependence on fossil fuels, or the fight against climate change. Only the symptoms, but the problem is not the root causes tackled, says Nikola Casule of the local Greenpeace branch in Eco-Business. “Instead of the greatest threat to the reef to ignore, would Turnbull the importance of all Australians above those of the coal industry must be placed by fully renewable energy to choose new and steenkoolprojecten.’
800 million per year
Imogen Zethoven, the campaign to Fight for our Reef, sits on the same line. “To the problem really to tackle, the government should make the transition to renewable energy, and new coal mines to stop it.’ Efforts to get the starfish to fight will, according to her, in addition, not much useful if there are not significantly more invested in the improvement of the lousy water quality. Zethoven calculated that the next decade over 800 million dollars per year will be needed. “The government must take this seriously and an investment of that magnitude.’
(Sources: Reuters, New Scientist, Eco-Business, CoralWatch)
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