cause and effect by Zhang linan

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linanzhang0214 — 2024-11-19 03:04:00 UTC

Worldwide, 19% of all coral reefs have been degraded beyond repair, and it is estimated that 35% are seriously threatened with destruction, mostly due directly to human activity (International Coral Reef Initiative website) . Australian scientists do not want the Great Barrier Reef to be one of these . While the Reef is now one of the healthiest coral reef ecosystems in the world due to careful management, unfortunately it still faces many pressures . The coral reefs and other marine life of the reef are still under threat from excess fertiliser and sewage run-off, and from human activity . Two solutions to this major environmental problem are research and education .

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linanzhang0214 — 2024-11-19 03:04:26 UTC

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest single collection of coral reefs in the world . It is made up of 2000 individual reefs and coral islands, and extends for 2000 kilometres from Papua New Guinea in the north to a point near Gladstone, Queensland, in the south . The reef is vital to the survival of thousands of species of marine life and to the Queensland and Australian governments because of the many tourists who visit it each year .

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linanzhang0214 — 2024-11-19 03:04:53 UTC

The reef is deteriorating due to sewage and fertiliser run-off from the farms on the Queensland coast (mainly sugar-cane farms) . The nutrients in the fertilisers and sewage—in particular nitrogen and phosphorus— encourage the growth of algae, which grow rapidly in nutrient-high waters . So, when the waters around the coral reefs become rich in nutrients, the algae take over and then smother and kill the coral . The nutrients also stunt the growth of many of the marine animals and plants, and eventually affect the number and diversity of fish, reef-building corals and other sea animals .

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linanzhang0214 — 2024-11-19 03:05:19 UTC

Another danger for the reef is tourist activity . While there have been major successes as a result of zoning and other initiatives, snorkelling, fishing, boating and swimming all contribute to the disturbance of the waters and coral . Fishing, for example, upsets the balance of nature, and boats cause damage with their anchors and exhaust fumes .

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linanzhang0214 — 2024-11-19 03:05:40 UTC

One solution to the problem is research . At present tourists are helping to fund research by paying an environmental management charge whenever they enter the marine park (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority website) . Another solution is education of tourists and tourism operators, and of farmers . Already this has brought some success . For example, the sugar-cane industry has recently achieved major reductions in its nutrient run-off .

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linanzhang0214 — 2024-11-19 03:06:00 UTC

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the great natural wonders of the world . It is critical to find a solution to the problem of nutrient run-off and human pollution so that the coral reefs and reef marine life are safe for future generations