User:Alytras/sandbox

The Great Barrier Reef contributes to the overall wellbeing of the marine biome. Numerous species of aquatic plants, fish and megafauna utilize the reef for feeding, shelter and mating. Threats such as ocean acidification, pollution runoff and outbreaks of destructive species like the crown-of-thorns starfish have brought about the decline of this ecosystem. All of these threats can be linked to climate change which continues to place stress on coral reefs and the many species that inhabit them.

The Australian government has made it a goal to protect this World Heritage Site and in 2015, designed the Reef 2050 Long-term Sustainability Plan to better manage the Great Barrier Reef. This plan will join the Queensland Government and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to manage the amounts of run off that reach the Great Barrier Reef as well as mitigating crown-of-thorns starfish population flare ups. In addition, the Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan was announced in 2018 in order to help transition local communities, agricultural organizations and industries to more sustainable practices.