Experts Say That The Great Barrier Reef Is Showing Signs Of Recovery
These days it seems that humans are the reasons for many extinctions that are happening everyday. Whether it’s this funky looking green turtle, the blue macaw or the white rhino we are usually telling you about a recent extinction. This is due to humans taking over ecosystems and deforestation, but it seems that at least one thing in nature is working hard on a come back.
In grade school I remember learning about The Great Barrier Reef and how it was suffering due to pollution and global warming, but at least for now experts have seen a “significant sign of recovery.”
A non-profit organization, The Reef & Rainforest Research Centre, have been working on behalf of the government to see if the reef was showing any signs of improvement. While it’s going to still be a long road to recovery they have said that the improvement is partly due to having a milder summer this past year.
Sheriden Morris who is the managing director of the report said:
“Saxon Reef, for example, suffered some form of bleaching on 47.1 percent of its live coral cover during the 2016 event. Fortunately, much of the bleached coral recovered thanks to better conditions experienced in 2018.”
Law makers have been working towards this moment since even the 1980s when they passed laws to make sure there was no waste dumping near the reef. Researchers concluded in 2014:
“There certainly appear to be arguments to support the view of Dr Ward that Australia may not be in compliance with its obligations under the World Heritage Convention to protect world heritage for future generations in relation to the Great Barrier Reef and by proceeding without adequate information of the effects of disposal, in circumstances where the Reef is already in a degraded state and has reduced resilience.”
The current recovery status of the reef of course still depends on continued efforts to make the environment a better place for all. Morris went onto say:
“We all know that the reef may suffer further bleaching events as the climate continues to warm, but we have to do everything we possibly can to help protect our Great Barrier Reef.”
The reef will continue to rebound as long as the area isn’t effected by disease, pollution or extreme temperatures. This will help the algae to stick and grow to the coral which acts as a protector.
Morris concluded:
“It is important to realize that bleaching occurs in multiple stages, ranging from the equivalent of a mild sunburn to coral mortality.”
It’s not just important to keep the coral thriving for tourism. The Great Barrier Reef is home to a plethora of marine species, and if it was to die they would be forced to adapt as well.
Let’s hope that the reef continues it’s recovery even though we are still seeing the effects of global warming elsewhere in the world.
