Great Barrier Reef: Environmental Impact and Economic Consequences

This report examines the environmental effects and economic impact on the Great Barrier Reef, a natural wonder facing significant threats. It highlights the detrimental effects of climate change, including coral bleaching and ocean acidification, and their impact on the reef's structure and marine life. The report also emphasizes the economic importance of the reef, particularly its contribution to tourism, generating billions of dollars annually. It analyzes the impact of inefficient mining practices and proposes recommendations for conservation, including pollution reduction, sustainable business practices, and waste management. The report concludes by stressing the need for proactive measures to protect the Great Barrier Reef for both its environmental and economic value, referencing various sources and reports to support its findings. The report suggests that urgent action is needed to protect the reef for future generations.

Running head: ENVIRONMETAL EFFECT ON GREAT BARRIER REEF AND ITS
ECONOMIC IMPACT
Environmental Effect on Great Barrier Reef and Its Economic Impact
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Article Summary..............................................................................................................................2
Environmental effect on Great Barrier Reef....................................................................................3
Economic Impact of Great Barrier Reef..........................................................................................4
Recommendation.............................................................................................................................5
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................5
References........................................................................................................................................6

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Introduction
The Great Barrier Reef sited at the Australia’s east coast is considered as a wonder
creation of nature. The Reef is extent up to 300,000 square kilometers forming a beautiful coral
island can be visible from Earth’s surface. The Reef has both natural and economic importance
for Australian and for the world as well. Therefore, protection of this natural beauty is the
national responsibility. The Reef is endangered with human activity that leads to pollution and
destroy lives of coral. With this, there is a threat to destruction of the only living organic island.
In a step to protect Great Barrier Reef Conservationists in Queensland, ban the river mining.
Article Summary
Obsolete and inefficient method used for mining in north Queensland goes completely
against the protection policy for Great Barrier Reef. Queensland is the only region left in
Australia that allows extraction of tin, gold and silver with Instream mining method. In the
method, fine sediments are released harming a major part of reef’s catchments. Viewing this,
Anthony Lynham, mines minister of the state has recently disallowed mining activities that have
potential impact on the Reef. The potential dumping of sediments from these activities are
computed as 22,000 tons in just one year (thehindu.com 2017). Conservation reserve director,
Tim Hughes also supports this initiative of the mine minister. The primary factor for inefficient
mining method in this South Australian State is its location disadvantage. It is still considered as
a very remote place and thus is often ignored. However, now attention is also given to this state.
In a report published by the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF), states there are
more or less 22 mines responsible for destroying the reef and put a threat to the 30 or more

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species living there. These mines have coverage of 700 hectares in Normanby basin. ACF holds
the view that ceasing of inefficient mining should be outlawed long before
(theconversation.com 2017). Queensland state government should now ban such things.
However, possible risk to the reef remains as many such mines have still approval for executing
this kind of mining practice. Currently the numbers of approved mines are 18. Most of them are
operating since 1984 and seven joined them in between 2010 and 2012. Opposition has come
from the applicants’ side as well. John Withers, willing to continue its operation claimed that in
the practice there are good money and rejects the argument of sediment released into the reef
water.
Environmental effect on Great Barrier Reef
Climate change is the most significant environmental threat for Great Barrier Reef. The
Reef and other habitats living there are highly exposed to change in climate and may even have a
longer impact than that is expected. The complex structure of the coral reef is made of Calcium
Carbonate of skeletons constituted by the hard corals (Hughes, Day and Brodie 2015). The
structure is subject to destruction with increasing sea temperature, acidification in oceans and
other extreme events of weather.
Temperature of seawater above normal temperature results in coral bleaching that may
harm hard corals (Petus et al. 2016). With this, coral bleaching will become more frequent event
and will have a more severe impact. Some specific form of coral as staghorn coral are more
vulnerable to beaching. In the event, fleshy seaweeds will be benefitted those are in competition
with corals in Reef.

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In the Reef skeleton of organism like coralline algae is formed by the process is called
calcification. With increasing acidic substance, the process of calcification is disturbed and this
weakens the skeletons of creatures in the reef (Day and Dobbs 2013). This ultimate result will be
loss of corals and disappearance of reef’s structure.
Economic Impact of Great Barrier Reef
The main economic contribution of Great Barrier Reef is to the tourism industry. It
attracts million of tourists every year in Australia for visiting the only living island in the world.
With this, tourism has become a major earning sector for North Australia. All the parks in the
nearby region permit tourism to this site and there are 500 commercial vessels, further easing
tourism (australia.gov.au 2017). Tourism in the region generates nearly 2 billion $AU every
year. Deloitte report recorded people willingness to pay for this site as $67.60 per person.
In addition to economic valuation, the reef provides services to the eco system. Coral reef
gives erosion and storm protection to the northern part of Australia. The nurseries made with
25% of existing marine animals also attract visitors (theguardian.com 2017). The marine
animals themselves have distinct commercial value.
Recommendation
The environmental and economic value of Great Barrier Reefs is of great importance.
Therefore, protection and conservation needs to give priority. The concerned authority has
already initiated steps. Corrective measures are taken under Coastal Wetland Protection
Program (Piggott-McKellar and McNamara 2017). More concerns are needed in this direction.
Pollution free ocean water is the primary need. Water should be used efficiently so that less

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wastewater mixes with ocean. Reduction in the use of fossils fuel is required to save coral reef.
The smoke emitted from the burning fuel causes high bleaching and destruction. Using public
transport, travel by walking in the nearby region is some way out. Waste management so that he
ocean water remains pollution free should also be considered under the conservation scheme.
Business that does not harm the reef should be encouraged. Discussion should be arranged with
boating, fishing, aquarium, dive, hotel or other related organization for the right choice of
business.
Conclusion
The paper analyzes the importance of Great Barrier Reef for the Australian economy and
for the world as well. The reef has great economic value in Australia because of its significant
contribution to the tourism industry and ear millions of Australian dollars. However, because of
human activities and environmental effect existence of the reef is endangered. In order to address
this issue mines minister recently rejected two mining application in the Springvale station.
Directors of ACF also support the decision. The initiatives are expected to make success in
conservation of the reef.

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References
Australia.gov.au. (2017). Great Barrier Reef | australia.gov.au. [online] Available at:
http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/great-barrier-reef [Accessed 26 Aug.
2017].
Day, J.C. and Dobbs, K., 2013. Effective governance of a large and complex cross-jurisdictional
marine protected area: Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Marine Policy, 41, pp.14-24.
Hughes, T.P., Day, J.C. and Brodie, J., 2015. Securing the future of the Great Barrier
Reef. Nature Climate Change, 5(6), p.508.
Petus, C., Devlin, M., Thompson, A., McKenzie, L., Teixeira da Silva, E., Collier, C., Tracey, D.
and Martin, K., 2016. Estimating the Exposure of Coral Reefs and Seagrass Meadows to Land-
Sourced Contaminants in River Flood Plumes of the Great Barrier Reef: Validating a Simple
Satellite Risk Framework with Environmental Data. Remote Sensing, 8(3), p.210.
Piggott-McKellar, A.E. and McNamara, K.E., 2017. Last chance tourism and the Great Barrier
Reef. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 25(3), pp.397-415.
Robertson, J. (2017). Queensland conservationists call for river-mining ban to protect Great
Barrier Reef. [online] the Guardian. Available at:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/aug/18/queensland-conservationists-call-for-
river-mining-ban-to-protect-great-barrier-reef [Accessed 26 Aug. 2017].

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The Conversation. (2017). What's the economic value of the Great Barrier Reef? It's priceless.
[online] Available at: http://theconversation.com/whats-the-economic-value-of-the-great-barrier-
reef-its-priceless-80061 [Accessed 26 Aug. 2017].
The Hindu. (2017). Coral bleaching on Great Barrier Reef may cause Australia $750-million
loss. [online] Available at: http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/coral-bleaching-on-
great-barrier-reef-may-cause-australia-750-million-loss/article17947899.ece [Accessed 26 Aug.
2017].