A new U.N. report warns Australia's Great Barrier Reef is under imminent threat from development.
UNESCO recommended the World Heritage Committee consider listing the site in danger within the next year without substantial progress.
The mission to the world's largest living structure found pressures on the reef included coastal development, ports and liquefied natural gas facilities, extreme weather, poor water quality and grounded ships.
The report said the reef's universal value was threatened without action to secure its long-term conservation.
It specifically mentioned plans for liquefied natural gas facilities at Curtis Island and ongoing development of the coal port of Gladstone.
Here's a statement from Tony Burke, Australia's Environment Minister:
"The report effectively views the Great Barrier Reef at being at a cross roads where there have been challengers to the Great Barrier Reef for some time and some very significant decisions which will be coming to both myself as a Federal Environment Minister and to the Queensland Government. Significant decisions about various expansions along the region there."
NBC