7 September 2010

Students from Reef Guardian Schools across the Whitsunday region will take part in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's "Sustaining Biodiversity" Future Leaders Eco Challenge this Wednesday to celebrate Biodiversity Month, National Landcare Week and the Education Queensland Year of Sustainability.

 Reef Guardian Schools Program Manager Megan Sperring said this year's Future Leaders Eco Challenge will encourage 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 Pig Creek wetland 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 30 students and teachers from four schools will explore the ecosystem through activities such as water quality testing, tree planting and macroinvertabrate and weed identification, and discover the biodiversity of the wetlands and fishways.

 "They'll be ably assisted by participants from a number of groups including the Whitsunday Regional Council, Whitsunday Catchment Landcare and Proserpine Show Society."

 Ms Sperring said 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."

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