There's again a focus on the GBR's condition and, as per usual, the "experts" are throwing their play money into the hat.
Thus far, they're not farmer bashing again but my guess is it won't be long.
It's not climate change that is the cause of the poor state of the reef, it's POLLUTION ! Gold mines in Papua & New Guinea, run-off from coastal settlements, WW2 wrecks releasing chemicals in the depths of the Coral Sea, sunscreen from tourists and, over-fishing !
Only last February I dived in 35 metre uw visibility on a Ribbon reef & there's no fish to be seen in the photos when 30 years ago the coral would have been obscured by schools of fish ! I dived on three different Ribbon Reefs & saw two, yes you're reading correctly (2) Coral Trout !
Do people in the South ever even think about how many fish are taken by "recreational" fishing ?
My guess is no !
We even have Magazines & TV shows promoting this insanity ! Well, they do make money & satisfy some egos !

UNESCO is on about the reef being in danger again, but that's nothing new. The average person with no connection to it doesn't take long to lose interest when people regularly cry 'wolf'. I certainly don't know who to believe, and there's diddle squat I can do anyway. The people making money out of the reef were still saying there's nothing wrong with it, and tourists are still going there, last I heard.

individual,

Thank You for this discussion.

I've only ever seen this beautiful place on film.
And its beauty appears to be breathtaking.
It would be a shame if we would lose it.

Australia has so many unbelievably
magnificent places that should be preserved. So
many unique places. Hopefully, something will be
done before it's too late.

My husband and I are still planning to become "grey
nomads" and travel around this country one day.
That's on our to do list in the future - if our
health holds out. And hopefully the reef will still be there.

cont'd ...

individual,

I've found a link from the "Great Barrier Reef Foundation."
I'm not familiar with who they are or the work that they
do however I found reading about the threats on the reef
and causes - useful. Perhaps you might find it useful as
well:

http://www.barrierreef.org/the-reef/threats

Perhaps it's because I'm getting old but I feel that the surface water inside the Barrier north of Cairns is getting cooler lately.
The greatest concern to me is the lack of fish about the reefs.

Just saw on the news that the government intends to reject the UNESCO opinion. I know nothing at all about the condition of the reef but, given all the differences of opinions of scientists , the hysteria typical of the UN and its attempted interference in Australian sovereignty,downright misinformation on climate change etc, I would probably be calling bulldust on this one.