Some of the money will be used to help farmers near the reef modify their practices. The Australian government is spending AUD500m ( A$500 million ) to protect the Great Barrier Reef by improving water quality and reducing the runoff of agricultural pesticides. The World Heritage-listed reef has lost between 26% and 28% of its coral as a result of bleaching linked to increasing sea temperatures and damage inflicted by crown-of-thorns starfish. Conservationists have welcomed the new fund, but also called for the government to take further action on climate change. Queensland is regarded as thousands of the world’s major producers of greenhouse gases.
The Australian government is spending AUD500m ( A$500 million ) to protect the Great Barrier Reef by improving water quality and reducing the runoff of agricultural pesticides. The World Heritage-listed reef has lost between 26% and 28% of its coral as a result of bleaching linked to increasing sea temperatures and damage inflicted by crown-of-thorns starfish. Conservationists have welcomed the new fund, but also called for the government to take further action on climate change. Queensland is regarded as thousands of the world’s major producers of greenhouse gases.