“Finally, on October 26, 1981, the Great Barrier Reef received what two of its finest historians, James and Margarita Bowen, have called a 'conservation climax' - World Heritage listing 'as the most impressive marine area in the world.' The Reef met all four of UNESCO's 'natural criteria.' It was an outstanding example of the earth's evolutionary history, an arena of significant ongoing geological processes and biological evolution, a superlative natural phenomenon, and a significant natural habitat containing threatened species of animals or plants with exceptional universal scientific value.” EarthScienceHistorySpeciesBiologyGeologyMarine LifeUnescoGreat Barrier Reef Book:The Reef: A Passionate History: The Great Barrier Reef from Captain Cook to Climate Change Source: The Reef: A Passionate History: The Great Barrier Reef from Captain Cook to Climate Change