The Chairman of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) will meet with members of the Whitsunday community to recognise the efforts of the region’s young environmentalists in honour of 2008, the International Year of the Reef.

Chairman Russell Reichelt said Reef Guardians from the Whitsunday PCYC were making a substantial contribution to the local community.

“Although we recognise today’s youth as tomorrow’s future leaders, we sometimes underestimate the role of young people in shaping our present views on environmental issues,” Mr Reichelt said.

“In actual fact, children and young people play a major role in driving the adoption of environmentally sustainable behaviours within households, schools and communities.

“More and more often, young people are encouraging their parents to adopt recycling programs and minimise their energy use.

“Using the philosophy of thinking global and acting local, the youth of the Whitsunday region are demonstrating their strong commitment to improving their local environment and thereby their own communities.”

Mr Reichelt will present the Whitsunday PCYC EcoKids with a Reef Guardian Schools award at the 2008 Youth Environment Awards (YEA) being held by the PCYC.

Event organiser Cap’n Dan Van Blarcom said the award for the EcoKids would be a twist on the presentation, which was predominantly focused on the kids presenting their own awards to schools, businesses, community groups and government organisations that were making positive contributions to the environment.

“The EcoKids believe in the importance of kids recognising groups and individuals who are working to improve our environment.

“They are looking forward to presenting awards to some of the region’s top environmental agencies including the Whitsunday Local Marine Advisory Committee, Whitsunday Catchment Landcare, GBRMPA and also Whitsunday Regional Council and businesses such as Hayman Island Resort.

“It will be a nice surprise for them to receive an award for their own hard work on environmental issues,” Cap’n Van Blarcom said.

Cap’n Van Blarcom said the awards would be a wonderful two-way acknowledgment of the contribution of both young people and environmental groups in helping communities to address environmental issues with international scope.

Following the awards presentation, GBRMPA Director of Climate Change, Dr Paul Marshall and environmental lawyer Dr Chris McGrath will speak about the growing environmental challenge of climate change and climate impacts on the Great Barrier Reef in a Climate Change Public Forum.

The awards ceremony will take place from 5 pm Thursday, 22May 2008 at the Whitsunday PCYC.