Revealed: The bizarre plan to spend $400million of YOUR money on ‘fake clouds’ to save the Great Barrier Reef
- Bizarre $400million taxpayer-funded plan to save Great Barrier Reef is revealed
- Great Barrier Reef Foundation devised the forward-thinking reef restoration plan
- Creating shade through clouds, mist, fog, or surface films have been suggested
A bizarre $400million tax-payer funded rescue plan to protect the Great Barrier Reef from being destroyed by climate change has been revealed.
The Great Barrier Reef Foundation is expected to publish a 113-page plan on Friday, which details how it plans to spend a $444million federal grant to save the reef.
Man-made clouds, mist and bio-degradable surface films were all revealed to be the ‘best option’ to fend off solar radiation and protect the Great Barrier Reef from climate change, The Courier Mail reported.
A bizarre $400million tax-payer funded rescue plan to protect the Great Barrier Reef (pictured) from being destroyed by climate change has been revealed
The latest Australian Institute of Marine Science report is revealed shows there has been a general decline in coral cover in the reef over the last five years
While coral replanting and seeding to restore lost cover has been considered, experts have argued the exercise is not only costly but also labour intensive.
The foundation realised it needed to think outside of the box, so it partnered with a consortium of experts and devised the forward-thinking reef restoration plan.
The report concluded the best option for reef-wide protection lies in large scale solar radiation management, which led it to considering the radical approaches.
‘The concept of creating shade through clouds, mist, fog, or surface films assumes that decreased solar radiation protects corals from bleaching,’ the report stated.
The GRBF report also found with the proper research and development effort, the goal of recovering the reef from the effects of climate change is possible.
The foundation drew emphasis to the hefty costs to replace heat-resistant coral in the reef, saying it would take as many as 700,000 divers working around the clock.
The report comes as the latest Australian Institute of Marine Science data found there has been a general decline in coral cover over the last five years.
According to the latest AIMS report, crown-of-thorn starfish outbreaks, cyclones and coral bleaching events have been the most detrimental to the reef in recent years.
According to the AIMS report, crown-of-thorn starfish (pictured) outbreaks, cyclones and coral bleaching events have been the most detrimental to the reef in recent years
The AIM research also showed while healthy coral reefs had cover of up to 50 per cent, others areas were barren with sparse skeletons covered in turf algae
The AIM research also showed while healthy coral reefs had cover of up to 50 per cent, others areas were barren with sparse skeletons covered in turf algae.
The forward-thinking GBRF plan comes after Sir David Attenborough weighed in on the matter at a parliamentary inquiry in the United Kingdom on Tuesday.
Mr Attenborough singled out Australian politicians for denying climate change exists and said ‘we cannot be radical enough’ when it comes to protecting natural assets.
The Australian Marine Conservation Society welcomed the new plan to solving the problem given the recent effects of bleaching and heatwaves on the reef.
AMCS Great Barrier Reef campaign manager Shani Tager said the nation must fight to protect the future of the reef.
‘This is a burning red flag for our Reef and our nation,’ she said.