GETTY Australia's energy minister is currently working to save the Great Barrier Reef from dangers

Putting the planet’s biggest natural wonder on the list of threatened World Heritage Sites would not only have caused political embarrassment for the Australian government but could have damaged its lucrative tourism industry. Rather than face international condemnation over its management of the Reef, UNESCO officials meeting in Krakow voted to keep the 1,400-mile living marvel and home to 1,625 different types of fish off its “danger list” — allowing Australia to continue its own measures to save the wonder.

Reacting to UNESCO’s decision, Australia’s energy minister Josh Frydenberg declared: “We're taking every action possible to ensure this great wonder of the world stays viable and healthy for future generations to come. And in a statement, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority said today it “welcomed” the World Heritage Committee’s decision and recognition of the significant effort underway to build the resilience” of the natural wonder. The authority said in a statement: “Mass coral bleaching in 2016 and 2017 is concerning for all governments responsible for World Heritage sites affected by global coral bleaching that began in 2014.

GETTY Unesco has voted to leave the Great Barrier Reef off its 'in danger list'

Stunning images from the Great Barrier Reef Thu, March 16, 2017 The beauty of the world's coral reef in pictures Play slideshow SWNS.com 1 of 24 Turtle reflection on the Great Barrier Reef

We're taking every action possible to ensure this great wonder of the world stays viable and healthy for future generations to come. Josh Frydenberg, Australia’s energy minister

“In the face of these mounting pressures, building the Reef’s resilience is vital and work is underway involving government, industry and the community.” The Great Barrier Reef was given a £33.3 billion value by economists in June – months after environmentalists sounded its death knell and published an obituary because of the Reef's perilous state from coral bleaching. “The Great Barrier Reef of Australia passed away in 2016 after a long illness – it was 25 million years old,” wrote one commentator when a study revealed how 22 per cent of the Reef had died “due to the worst mass bleaching event on record”. In March, underwater images emerged showing how the Reef was losing its spectacular colours. Greenpeace Australia Pacific released what it described as shocking images of the first severe coral bleaching to happen two years in a row.

GETTY Australia's management of tackling climate change has been frowned upon by the Government

Coral bleaching, put simply, is what happens when environmental stress impacts on the “symbiotic” relationship between the rock-like living creatures that form reefs and microscopic algae that give them their incredible colours. When stressful factors, particularly the warming up of ocean waters because of climate change, take effect, the corals expel the algae, leaving them to become transparent skeletons. Without the algae, the coral then starves. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Authority has stated there is £1.25 billion battle plan to save the wonder. In today’s statement after the UNESCO decision, it explained: “The Australian and Queensland governments’ Reef 2050 Plan outlines a range of actions to build resilience of the Reef, and the Authority is making a significant contribution to implementing the Plan.

GETTY The Great Barrier Reef was given a £33.3 billion value by economists in June