The Australian government has rallied behind a plan to protect the Great Barrier Reef from future degradation , releasing a long-term plan to prevent the World Heritage Site from being declared 'in danger ' . The World Heritage Committee is to decide whether the Reef is on the 'in danger ' list in June , and in a bid to ensure the long-term health of the national treasure , the Federal and Queensland governments released The Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan . The Reef , which covers an area of 348,000 square metres , is the world ’ s most extensive coral reef ecosystem , and is listed by UNESCO ' a site of remarkable variety and beauty ' . Scroll down for video . The Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan was announced by Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Saturday . Prime Minister Tony Abbott revealed the plan on Hamilton Island in far north Queensland on Saturday , and said that Australia is 'utterly committed as an entire nation to the protection of the Great Barrier Reef which is one of the natural wonders of the world ' , reported The ABC . 'The Great Barrier Reef is an incredibly diverse and rich environment – a maze of 3000 coral reefs and 1050 islands stretching for over 2300 kilometres , ' said a press release from Mr Abbott . 'It is already regarded as being among the best managed marine parks in the world . We ’ re determined to keep it that way . ' The Reef includes 2,500 individual reefs and over 900 islands , as well as over 1,500 species of fish , about 400 species of coral , 4,000 species of mollusk , and 240 species of birds . 'Collectively these landscapes and seascapes provide some of the most spectacular maritime scenery in the world , ' says the Reef 's listing by UNESCO . 'This diversity , especially the endemic species , means the GBR is of enormous scientific and intrinsic importance , and it also contains a significant number of threatened species . ' Mr Abbott said that Australia is 'utterly committed as an entire nation to the protection of the Great Barrier Reef which is one of the natural wonders of the world ' 'The Great Barrier Reef is an incredibly diverse and rich environment – a maze of 3000 coral reefs and 1050 islands stretching for over 2300 kilometres , ' said a press release from Mr Abbott . The Reef includes 2,500 individual reefs and over 900 islands , as well as over 1,500 species of fish . The Reef can be seen from outer space , and includes popular tourist destinations such as the Whitsundays and Princess Charlotte Bay . The plan includes a ban on dumping dredge spoil anywhere in the world heritage area , a limit on port expansion to four sites and targets for reducing sediment , nutrient and pesticide contamination . The plan identifies climate change as one of the major threats , and aims to improve water quality . Queensland Environment Minister Steven Miles said run-off of sediment , nutrients and pesticides was the biggest medium term threat to the reef , which the plan addressed . 'With it , we will be able to convince the World Heritage Committee that not only should they not list the reef as in-danger but that we will actually keep the reef from being in danger , ' he said . Greenpeace labelled the plan weak , as it still allows for massive coal port expansion and did not address climate change to a deserved extent , despite the report declaring this the main threat facing the Reef . The Commonwealth Government has committed a further $ 100 million for the Reef Trust , in addition to the $ 40 million provided by the Coalition last year . The Reef can be seen from outer space , and includes popular tourist destinations such as the Whitsundays and Princess Charlotte Bay . The Great Barrier Reef is home to approximately 400 species of coral , 4,000 species of mollusk , and 240 species of birds . The Commonwealth Government has committed a further $ 100 million for the Reef Trust , in addition to the $ 40 million already provided . 'Australians are rightfully proud of the Great Barrier Reef and recognise its immense biological , economic and cultural value , ' said the statement . 'Together , we are committed to protecting it for future generations . ' The Federal Minister for the Environment Greg Hunt released a statement with Mr Abbott highlighted that the continued increase in water quality was a focus of the plan . 'The work that ’ s being undertaken to improve water quality builds on the Commonwealth Government ’ s total and permanent ban on the dumping of capital dredge spoil in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park , ' the statement said . 'The heart of this plan is about better quality , with hard targets including a 50 per cent reduction in nitrogen by 2018 and an 80 per cent reduction by 2025 , ' Mr Hunt said at the release of the plan . The plan includes a ban on dumping dredge spoil anywhere in the world heritage area , a limit on port expansion to four sites .
The Federal and Queensland governments released The Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan on Saturday . The plan was released in a bid to prevent the World Heritage Site from being listed as 'in danger ' The Reef , which covers an area of 348,000 square metres , is the world ’ s most extensive coral reef ecosystem . Prime Minister Tony Abbott said that Australia is 'utterly committed to the protection of The Great Barrier Reef The plan includes a ban on dumping dredge spoil and an aim for better water quality .