These findings come from the new independent World Heritage Outlook, published today<\/a> by the world authority on nature, the International Union for Conservation of Nature. <\/p>\n Why the downgrades? Climate change<\/a> is the biggest threat. Worsening marine heatwaves are hitting coral reefs hard, while land areas are also affected by extreme weather and wildfires. Climate change now poses a severe threat to 12 of Australia\u2019s properties \u2013 75% of the total \u2013 more than any other threat. <\/p>\n What\u2019s changed?<\/p>\n The new IUCN report shows six Australian World Heritage properties have a \u201csignificant concern\u201d rating, while four are rated \u201cgood with some concerns\u201d and five are rated as \u201cgood\u201d. The Great Barrier Reef is the only one rated \u201ccritical\u201d. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n Reefs on the frontline<\/p>\n The Great Barrier Reef<\/a> recently suffered its sixth mass bleaching<\/a> since 2016. Recent surveys<\/a> show this is the first time very high (61-90% of corals) and extreme (over 90%) bleaching has been observed across all three regions of the reef. <\/p>\n The world\u2019s largest coral reef complex is considered in critical condition, as it is severely threatened<\/a> and deteriorating. <\/p>\n Climate change is driving intensifying heat in the oceans, which can trigger coral bleaching and other adverse impacts. Climate change is only one of many threats<\/a> facing the reef, alongside poor water quality<\/a>, unsustainable fishing and coastal development<\/a>. <\/p>\n Western Australia\u2019s Ningaloo Reef<\/a> is now listed as \u201csignificant concern\u201d. Climate change is the biggest threat to this area, known for its whale sharks and manta rays. <\/p>\n Five marine heatwaves have hit Ningaloo over the last 15 years. But the worst by far was this year\u2019s intense marine heatwave, which was off the charts<\/a>. Major bleaching<\/a> has been seen along the full length of the reef, inside the shallow lagoon and on the deeper reef slopes. <\/p>\n This year\u2019s marine heatwave has been the worst yet for Ningaloo. Pictured: a diver assessing the damage. Western Australia\u2019s Shark Bay<\/a> has also deteriorated due to escalating climate threats<\/a>. <\/p>\n The damage done by this year\u2019s marine heatwave is yet to be fully understood. But we do know Shark Bay\u2019s ancient stromatolites<\/a> are vulnerable to rising sea levels and extreme climate events. A major dieback of enormous seagrass beds<\/a> occurred during an earlier heatwave in 2010-11. <\/p>\n Under a business as usual scenario<\/a> for carbon emissions, coral bleaching is expected to intensify to the point where coral reefs disappear<\/a> by the end of the century. <\/p>\n Land-based parks are also under threat<\/p>\n Most of Australian natural World Heritage areas on land have also been hit by extreme weather events. Severe and widespread bushfires have hit the Tasmanian Wilderness<\/a>, Gondwana Rainforests<\/a>, Greater Blue Mountains<\/a>, K\u2019gari<\/a>, Wet Tropics of Queensland<\/a> and Kakadu National Park<\/a> at some point over the past decade. <\/p>\n Bushfires over the Black Summer of 2019-2020 impacted one-third of Queensland\u2019s section of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia. The intensity and frequency of such events, compounded by extreme weather, are expected to increase and threaten the resilience of all these areas. <\/p>\n Downgrades due to lack of planning<\/p>\n Two more natural properties have been downgraded from \u201cGood\u201d to \u201cGood with some concerns\u201d due to concerns over planning for the future. <\/p>\n Western Australia\u2019s Purnululu National Park<\/a> protects the Bungle Bungle Range. IUCN considers updated management planning is needed to address the main challenges facing the area\u2019s ecology, especially given the intensifying threats from climate change. <\/p>\n The Australian Fossil Mammal Site<\/a> was downgraded for a similar reason. This site consists of two separate areas with rich fossil histories \u2013 South Australia\u2019s Naracoorte Caves<\/a> and Queensland\u2019s Riversleigh<\/a>. <\/p>\n The downgrade here reflects the assessment that both areas need to be better protected with updated plans, more effective management, regular monitoring of Naracoorte caves and sustained funding for protection, staff training and scientific research<\/a>.<\/p>\n Good news: Macquarie Island is rebounding<\/p>\n Australia\u2019s Macquarie Island<\/a> lies halfway between New Zealand and Antarctica. Its isolation made it perfect for seabirds and unusual megaherb<\/a> plant species. But introduced rats, mice and rabbits did real damage. <\/p>\n The reason Macquarie has been upgraded to a good outlook is due to a highly successful<\/a> pest eradication and recovery program. Since these pests have been wiped out, plants have regrown and seabirds such as albatross and burrowing petrels have returned in large numbers to breed. <\/p>\n With rabbits and rodents gone, plants living on Macquarie Island are recovering. In other good news, the site protection and management of 14 of Australia\u2019s natural properties have been rated as either mostly or highly effective. This is welcome praise for the dedicated work of the staff. <\/p>\n The question now is whether these efforts will be enough to protect these globally important sites against threats from outside the property boundaries, such as climate change<\/a>, mining and infrastructure<\/a> and invasive species<\/a>. These threats are occurring as many properties face budgetary constraints. <\/p>\n Australia at the front of globally worrying trends<\/p>\n Australia isn\u2019t alone in witnessing natural World Heritage properties deteriorate. Since 2020, 10% of the world\u2019s 271 natural and mixed World Heritage areas have deteriorated, while 5% have shown improvement. <\/p>\n Regrettably, Australia is still punching below its weight, given 25% of its natural properties face a worse outlook than they did five years ago and only one has improved. <\/p>\n The threats<\/a> facing these famous natural places are escalating. Halting the decline will require good management of all types of pressures.<\/p>\n Read more: . <\/p>\n![\"diver](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/file-20251009-56-j4jmkw.jpg\")
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\n Declan Stick\/Australian Institute of Marine Science<\/a><\/p>\n![\"nightime](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/file-20251009-64-sjzahp.jpg\")
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\n Ben Blanche, Author provided (no reuse)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/file-20251008-57-j1fck5.jpg\")
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\n Mel Wells, Author provided (no reuse)<\/p>\n
\n The Great Barrier Reef is in trouble. There are a whopping 45 reasons why<\/a><\/p>\n
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