Australia Pledges Millions of Dollars in Bid to Rescue Great Barrier Reef

"SYDNEY, Australia — The Australian government unveiled a plan on Sunday to try to rescue the imperiled Great Barrier Reef, pledging hundreds of millions of dollars in what would be the largest single investment for reef conservation and management in the country’s history.

Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg said 500 million Australian dollars ($379 million) would be set aside to help the reef, an important ecosystem and a global treasure, after years of devastating damage from warming waters caused by climate change.

“We’ll be improving the monitoring of the reef’s health and the measurement of its impacts,” Mr. Frydenberg said from the city of Cairns, a popular jumping-off point for reef tourism. “The more we understand about the reef, the better we can protect it.”"

Damien Cave reports for the New York Times April 29, 2018.