The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's (GBRMPA) Reef Guardian Stewardship Program involves building relationships and working closely with those who use and rely on the Reef or its catchment for their recreation or their business.

Through the Reef Guardian program, communities, individuals and businesses are working together to build a healthier and more resilient Great Barrier Reef.

With the aim of guiding everyday actions and decisions in a way that will help ensure long-term environmental benefits for the Reef, the GBRMPA launched the Reef Guardian program in 2003 with Reef Guardian Schools.

From humble beginnings, the Reef Guardian Schools initiative now has more than 230 schools and over 60,000 students involved in building the resilience of the Reef to withstand a changing climate.

Following on from the success of the Reef Guardian Schools program, the initiative was expanded to include councils in 2007. Currently, 13 councils from Bundaberg to Cooktown are signed up to the Reef Guardian Council program.

The Australian Government allocated some additional short term funding to the GBRMPA in 2010 to help improve the outlook for the Reef.  This allocation of funds saw the GBRMPA expand the Reef Guardian initiative to include pilot programs for farmers and fishers.

In early 2011 the Reef Guardian Farmers and Reef Guardian Fishers pilot programs were launched. These initiatives highlight the voluntary environmental practices adopted by farmers, graziers and fishers. These practices go beyond mandatory standards and significantly benefit the Reef.