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The great barrier reef is being destroyed becuase of global warming, pollution and other factors. Most of it is due to people though.

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The Great Barrier Reef is not actually almost being destroyed. It does not even have an official listing of endangered: but it is shrinking, and it is unknown by how much.

Climate scientists who subscribe to the theory of anthropogenic global warming (i.e. caused by man's activities) predict that the Great Barrier Reef may lose up to 95% of its coral by the middle of the current century. Although the coastline parallel to the Great Barrier Reef has been settled by Europeans for less then 200 years, these scientists believe that the Reef has been shrinking by 20% every 100 years.

Climate scientists who subscribe to the theory that global warming is cyclical perhaps have a less drastic view, as they believe that the coral will regenerate, as it has done so in the past. Destruction and regeneration is all part of the reef's natural cycle. parts of tye northern Great Barrier Reef that have been damaged during a warming cycle have been found to regenerate after just twelve years.

However, it should be noted that pollution and chemical runoff pose a very real threat to the reef. The water quality of the reef is affected by sediment and nutrients, and 80% of this is caused by cattle grazing on the land adjacent to the reef. Mud and chemical runoff tend to limit the sunlight that reaches the coral, causing it to die off, and they increase the macro-algae, which is a weed.

Tourism is a threat to the reef, as tourist boats damage the delicate framework of the reef; fishing and pollution left behind by visitors also is a threat.

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