Great Barrier Reef has not been listed as endangered but it is still under watch. Source: News Corp Australia

The Federal and Queensland governments have welcomed the draft report released by UNESCO on Friday, with Environment Minister Greg Hunt calling it “an overwhelming endorsement” of their approaches to reef protection.

But environmental groups say the report puts both governments on notice to deliver on their promises to protect the reef.

The UN’s conservation agency said it noted “with concern” the state of the reef which has had World Heritage Site status since 1981.

UNESCO warned that the “in danger” label wasn’t off the cards as “the overall outlook is poor” and it urged Australia “to rigorously implement all of its commitments” and submit a progress report by December 2016.

The report said measures that represent significant progress to protect the reef included restoring water quality, “restricting major port development” and “a permanent ban on dumping of dredged material”.

Environment Minister Greg Hunt is pleased with the UNESCO report. Source: News Corp Australia

Mr Hunt welcomed the report, saying it recognised the “unprecedented” work by the Federal and Queensland governments to protect the reef, including a ban on the dumping of dredge material and port development restrictions.

“Indeed, all references to in danger have been dropped and Australia and Queensland’s efforts have been praised,” he said in a joint statement with Queensland’s Deputy Premier Jackie Trad and Environment Minister Steven Miles.

“This is an overwhelming endorsement, but we want to make sure that we keep the pressure up on ourselves and inviting a little bit of long-term international scrutiny, I think, is a very valuable thing,” Ms Trad said the decision reflected the commitment made by the Palaszczuk government.

“We were elected with a mandate to save the reef for generations to come and we intend to deliver on those promises,” she said. The Queensland Tourism Industry Council said listing the reef as “in danger” would have been catastrophic for the tourism industry, as it would have discouraged tourists.

The Queensland Resources Council said the report recognised Australia’s huge strides in the management of the site.

But Greenpeace said the decision by UNESCO to demand a report on progress within 18 months showed the federal and Queensland governments were on notice.

“The Australian government can’t talk about protecting the reef while aggressively supporting the licensing of mega-mine and expansion of coal ports along the Great Barrier Reef coast,” said Shani Tager, Greenpeace Australia Reef campaigner.

WWF-Australia’s CEO Dermot O’Gorman also pointed to the measures demanded of Australia in the draft decision.

“The Australian and Queensland governments must now deliver on their promises to better protect the reef, "he said in a statement. The 21 nations in UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee will decide whether to accept the report’s recommendations at a meeting in Germany at the end of June.