Impact of Sugarcane Farming on the Health of the Great Barrier Reef

This paper analyzes the adverse effects of sugarcane farming and pollutants on the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. It highlights the impact of fertilizers and pesticides on the health and viability of coral reefs.

Running head: SUGARCANE FARMING AND GREAT BARRIER REEF
Impact of sugarcane farming on the health of the Great Barrier Reef of Australia
Name of the Student:
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Author’s Note:

1SUGARCANE FARMING AND THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
Aim of the Paper
The aim of this paper is to analyze the adverse effects of sugarcane farming and the
pollutants released by the farms on the health on the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.
Background of the Paper
In Australia, adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef, there are more than 3,000 sugarcane
farms and also other agricultural farms which span over a land area of more than 360,000
hectares (Wwf.org.au, 2019). More importantly, it is seen that these farms use different kinds
of fertilizers as well as pesticides for enhancing the growth rate as well as the quality of the
sugarcanes and also other agricultural products. Furthermore, these fertilizers as well as
pesticides are not biodegradable and often run into the water bodies which are adjacent to
them (Bell, Elmetri & Lapointe, 2014). The water of these river bodies in turn gets connect
with the coastal floodplains wherein the Great Barrier Reef is located.
Figure 1: Use of Fertilizers in sugarcane farms
Source: Huffingtonpost.com.au, 2019

2SUGARCANE FARMING AND THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
The major problem arises because of the fact that these fertilizers as well as pesticides
form sediments in these coastal flood plains which greatly support the coral reefs and thereby
adversely affect their health and viability. Furthermore, they have significantly reduced the
quality of the water by enhancing the level of nitrogen in these water bodies which greatly
support the life of the coral reefs (Huffingtonpost.com.au, 2019). This is important because of
the fact that the coral reefs for sustaining themselves need quality water with high content of
oxygen in the same (Bell, Elmetri & Lapointe, 2014). As a matter of fact, a research
conducted by Wwf.org.au (2019) clearly states that if the amount of sentiments flowing into
the water bodies is not reduced by half and no efforts are being taken for improving the
quality of the water then it is expected that the coral reefs of Australia would be reduced by
more than 80%. Needless to say, this poses a significant amount of threat to the marine
ecosystem of the concerned nation and its water bodies which greatly support the life of the
corals.
Figure 2: Damage caused by the fertilizers on the health of the Great Barrier Reef
Source: Wwf.org.au, 2019

3SUGARCANE FARMING AND THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
Significant of the Paper
The significance of the paper lies in the fact that it will advocate for the health as well
as safety of the coral reefs in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia by highlighting the adverse
effects of the sugarcane farming and other kinds of farming which are being practiced near it.
More importantly, the paper will also show the manner in which the fertilizers as well as the
pesticides which are being used by the farmers for enhancing the growth rate and quality of
the sugarcanes and other agricultural products are taking a heavy toll on the life of the corals
and thereby threatening the marine ecosystem in a substantial manner. Thus, it can be said
that the concerned paper will an initiative on the part of the researcher to curb the menace or
the danger posed by sugarcane farming and others to the health as well as well-being of the
corals in the Great Barrier Reef.

4SUGARCANE FARMING AND THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
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5SUGARCANE FARMING AND THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
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