great barrier reef

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An unprejudiced observer might well be fearful that in the not too distant future our children may be able to learn about the coral reefs only from books and documentary films, for one of nature's most unique habitats will have vanished from the face of the Earth. (Patrick White 1957)
The Great Barrier Reef is said to be the jewel of Australia. However Australian lifestyles have had a significant impact on the reef since European settlers first arrived. This essay will discuss two of the major problems the reef is subject to, and the strategies in place to secure the reefs future. Australian lifestyles and farming occur predominantly on the coast, which subject’s the reef to large quantities of sediment runoff. In addition to this problem is the outbreak of the crown of thorn starfish. However, significant efforts are being made to address these problems. Equally important is climate change and the threat it has on the reef in coming years. Consequently, the Government and other organizations have been looking at ways to increase the reef's resilience, to better cope with this problem. On the whole, much is being done to benefit the reef. However, with the increasing threat of climate change, there is still a great deal that needs to be done to secure the reefs future.

Costal runoff has a detrimental impact on the Great Barrier Reef, as well as other problems which are associated with it. Since the arrival of European settlers, farm practices have changed dramatically. We now have approximately 12 million tonnes of sediment per year, run out to the sea due to coastal runoff. This is a result of forestry operations, land clearing for agriculture, grazing and cropping in river zones (Lindenmayer 2007, p47). Sediment can smother a c...

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...e affecting the reef. Nevertheless, there are practices being put in place to increase the reefs future resilience. Overall, it would seem that farming practices operating so close to the coast need to be closely monitored as to minimize the amounts of herbicides, pesticides and sediment that flow onto the reef, which also have an impact on the crown of thorn starfish. On the other hand, the reefs long term problem is climate change. Although, this is not just a local problem that affects the reef, but a global threat. However, industries operating off the reef have been taking actions to reduce their carbon footprint. Even though a lot is being done for the resilience of the reef, there is still a lot needed to be done to guarantee the reef future. So in the hope our children don’t have to learn about the Great Barrier reef in text books, and through television.

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