11 August 2010

Students from Reef Guardian Schools across the Cairns region will take part in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's "Sustaining Biodiversity" Future Leaders Eco Challenge tomorrow, hosted in partnership with Cairns Regional Council, to celebrate the International Year of Biodiversity and the Education Queensland Year of Sustainability.

Reef Guardian Schools Program Manager Megan Sperring said this year's Future Leaders Eco Challenge encouraged students to become wetland ecologists by combining workshop style catchment-based activities and investigative science to predict, observe and explain the ecosystem's health.

"Students and teachers will explore the biodiversity of the Cattana Wetlands ecosystem and look at what is there, why it is important, and who is responsible for looking after it," she said.

"The activity has been designed to challenge students and teachers to understand linkages between ecosystems, sustainability and water quality for a greater understanding of the role that wetland's play in the Great Barrier Reef catchment area and the Reef's current and future resilience.

"Over 70 students and teachers from fourteen schools will participate in an insect safari, bird watching, vegetation and fish monitoring, and tree planting.

"They'll be ably assisted by 40 James Cook University third year education students as well as representatives from Cairns Regional Council, Fisheries Queensland, Cairns Bird Watching Club and Cairns Botanical Gardens."

The Reef Guardian Schools program is an education initiative of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority that develops partnerships between schools and their communities to work towards a sustainable future for the Great Barrier Reef.

"There are approximately 60 000 students across Queensland who are working on various environmental and sustainability projects throughout the year both within their classrooms and playgrounds and in their local communities," she said.

"The key objective of the Reef Guardian Schools program is to create awareness, understanding and appreciation for the Reef and connected ecosystems.

"It is designed to empower students and give them a sense of involvement in the bigger picture and the belief that they really can make a positive difference."

Mayor Val Schier said that Cairns Regional Council is excited to host this event at Cattana Wetlands.

“Anything positive to increase the community’s environmental awareness of the importance of wetlands in relation to the Great Barrier Reef is something Council supports,” Cr Schier said.

“Council will donate 300 native trees propagated at Council’s Stratford nursery and Council’s natural resource unit will provide on-ground expertise on the day.

“Students of today are the leaders of tomorrow. Projects such as this give the environment top priority.”

Cairns Regional Council is part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's Reef Guardian Councils program.

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