Six Reef Guardian Schools in the Hinchinbrook Shire and Cassowary Coast region will receive grants to kick-start environmental projects in their school and community.

The grants of $300 from the Hinchinbrook Local Marine Advisory Committee (LMAC) will provide much needed funds to the schools so they can expand their Reef Guardian activities.

Hinchinbrook Local Marine Advisory Committee Chairman Cr Geoff Gianotti said they were delighted to support schools in this environmental education program run by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

"The scope of projects undertaken by our Reef Guardian Schools is truly amazing," Cr Gianotti said.

"Their on-ground activities are making a huge difference to the local environment and they are demonstrating that they are leaders in sustainable living.

"It's wonderful to see our students, teachers and the community working together towards a healthier Great Barrier Reef."

Cr Gianotti said Hinchinbrook LMAC would also supply the schools with equipment to study water quality in their region.

The grants from the Hinchinbrook LMAC will be used by schools to conduct the following activities:

• Our Lady of Lourdes – revegetate their school grounds and establish a rainforest area in their grounds.
• Victoria Plantation State School - 'Green hub' recycling project and rainforest revegetation project.
• Bambaroo State School - fix their chicken coop that was damaged by cyclone Yasi.
• Cardwell State School - buy native plant species and resources for planting cyclone proof vegetation.
• Mt Fox State School - purchase a GPS system to track biodiversity, as well as a time lapse camera to capture footage of species which use the habitat near their school.
• Trebonne State School - purchase an electronic microscope so they can discover new water bugs during their water quality monitoring project.

LMACs are voluntary community-based committees that provide advice to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority on Marine Park management issues.