UNESCO may place Great Barrier Reef on list of endangered World Heritage sites
Lady Elliot Island is a coral cay located at the southern tip of the World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef. Situated within a highly protected ’Green Zone’ the island is a sanctuary for over 1,200 species of marine life and is known for its abundance of manta rays, turtles, amazing array of spectacular marine life and unspoiled coral reef. UNESCO will say on Wednesday whether it will place the reef on a list of endangered World Heritage sites, a move the Australian government wants to avoid, having lobbied hard overseas. Earlier this year, UNESCO said the reef's outlook was "poor".
Peter Gash, owner and manager of the Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, prepares to snorkel during an inspection of the reef's condition in an area called the 'Coral Gardens' located at Lady Elliot Island, north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia.David Gray/Reuters
An aerial view of Lady Elliot Island located north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia.David Gray/Reuters
Peter Gash (L), owner and manager of the Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, snorkels with Oliver Lanyon and Lewis Marshall, senior rangers in the Great Barrier Reef region for the Queenlsand Parks and Wildlife Service, at Lady Elliot Island, north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia.David Gray/Reuters
Dried coral and shells lie on a beach on Lady Elliot Island, north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia.David Gray/Reuters
A boat carrying tourists floats above an area called the 'Coral Gardens' near Lady Elliot Island, north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia.David Gray/Reuters
Tourists prepare to board a boat to snorkel in an area called the 'Coral Gardens' located at Lady Elliot Island, north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia.David Gray/Reuters
A reef shell lies on a beach as the sun sets on Lady Elliot Island located north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia.David Gray/Reuters
Small bushes grow on a coral beach on Lady Elliot Island located north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia.David Gray/Reuters
Tourists look through a glass window in the bottom of a boat as it floats above an area called the 'Coral Gardens' located at Lady Elliot Island, north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia.David Gray/Reuters
Tourists snorkel near a turtle as it looks for food amongst the coral in the lagoon at Lady Elliot Island north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia.David Gray/Reuters