7 March 2007

Central State School students will canoe down the Ross River and Stuart Creek to highlight the importance of wetlands and the role they play in protecting the Great Barrier Reef.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Wetlands Project Manager Donna Audas said Central State School was trialling a wetlands teaching unit for Queensland schools

“Through the Queensland Wetlands Programme, a joint Australian and Queensland Government initiative to manage and conserve wetlands, we are developing a teaching unit that educates students all about wetlands,” she said.

“It is an excellent opportunity to learn through experience the valuable and diverse role wetlands play in the ecosystem.

“Wetlands play a vital role in preventing pollutants from entering the Reef and they provide important breeding sites and habitat for fish species, birds and other plants and animals.” 

The students will begin their two-day canoeing trip at Loam Island where Member for Herbert Mr Peter Lindsay will help the students get underway.

“The students will canoe down Ross River and Stuart Creek and monitor everything from water quality, fish species and insects to soil and vegetation cover,” Ms Audas said.

“At each site along the waterway students will collect information about the creek and its surrounding land use so they can piece together its health and what the impacts are and ultimately understand its value to the Great Barrier Reef.

“The students have been working with Conservation Volunteers Australia, the Australian Centre for Tropical Freshwater Research, the Environmental Protection Agency, Scouts and the Marine Park Authority to learn the skills needed to complete the fieldwork.

“To have a new curriculum such as this developed and delivered in the Great Barrier Reef catchment ensures the students will understand the importance wetlands play in protecting the reef.”  

As a Reef Guardian School, Central State School have made a commitment to learn more about the Great Barrier Reef and help keep it sustainable for the future.