U.N. wants Great Barrier Reef labeled ‘in danger.’ Australia says ‘no need.’

Australia is pushing back on a United Nations-backed mission’s recommendation to add its treasured Great Barrier Reef to the list of endangered World Heritage sites, saying there was no need for such a decision.

Australia’s environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, said Tuesday that the new government was already taking action to protect the reef, more so than when the inspection took place while the previous administration was in office. She said the government has committed nearly $800 million to caring for the reef.

“No one loves the Great Barrier Reef more than Australians. No one is more determined to protect it than the Australian government,” she told reporters. “We’ll clearly make the point to UNESCO that there is no need to single the Great Barrier Reef out in this way,” she said.

The U.N.-backed mission said it “sympathizes with” concerns that designating the reef as “in danger” could impact vital tourism. But it added that such a designation could also position Australia as “a world leader in conserving globally significant natural heritage.”

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