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Australia's Great Barrier Reef is one of the natural wonders of the world - but its days are numbered.

Although the country's government has invested AU$50 million (£28 million) in a plan to protect the reef, the coral bleaching has become too advanced .

Scientists have told the Australian government the plan is unachievable - because it makes no mention of a plan to fight climate change.

Bleaching occurs when the water is too warm, forcing coral to expel living algae and causing it to calcify and turn white. Mildly bleached coral can recover if the temperature drops but rising sea temperatures have magnified the damage beyond repair.

(Image: RooM RF)

Instead of trying to save the reef, scientists recommend that authorities shift their efforts to maintaining its "ecological function".

"The concept of 'maintaining ecological function' refers to the balance of ecological processes necessary for the reef ecosystem as a whole to persist, but perhaps in a different form," a spokesperson for Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority told the Guardian .

The ecological function of the reef could include providing shelter for fish and protecting the shoreline from waves. It also serves as an important tourist attraction.

Efforts have already been made to try and replace the natural coral with 3D-printed alternatives .

(Image: Moment RF)

The stark truth was raised at a meeting of the Reef 2050 advisory committee, which provides the government with advice and guidance on implementing the plan.

Members of the committee spoke to the Guardian on condition of anonymity and made plain their view that climate change has pushed the reef beyond repair.

Without addressing greenhouse gas emissions, the ability of Australia to reverse coral bleaching on the reef is extremely negligable.

(Image: Reuters)

Earlier this month, a communique from the Independent Expert Panel - another research team - made a very similar argument.

"In our lifetime and on our watch, substantial areas of the Great Barrier Reef and the surrounding ecosystems are experiencing major long-term damage which may be irreversible unless action is taken now.

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"The planet has changed in a way that science informs us is unprecedented in human history. While that in itself may be cause for action, the extraordinary rapidity of the change we now observe makes action even more urgent.

"The Panel considers that action to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases must be central to the response. This needs to be coupled with increased efforts to improve the resilience of the coral and other ecosystems that form the Great Barrier Reef."

Other experts have seen the effect of coral bleaching over time.

Marine biologist and conservation photographer for Greenpeace Brett Monroe Garner filmed the coral on Feb. 20 and in a statement via Greenpeace said, "I've been photographing this area of the reef for several years now and what we're seeing is unprecedented."

Mildly bleached coral can recover if the temperature drops. And while the process can occur naturally, scientists are concerned rising sea temperatures caused by global warming is magnifying the damage.

“In these photos nearly 100% of the corals are bleaching and who knows how many will recover? Algae is already beginning to overgrow many of the corals," said Garner.

(Image: Getty Images)

Bleaching has a knock-on effect of leaving sensitive underwater ecosystems unable to recover.

UNESCO's World Heritage Committee stopped short of placing the Great Barrier Reef on an "in danger" list last May but is monitoring the situation closely.