2005 Reef Beat posters 1-8 in Cairns Post.pdf - Great Barrier Reef ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

8reef beatriver to reefconnected!all It’sThe Great Barrier Reef.A crucial habitat.Keeping the Reef clean will ensure the future of its occupants.IF you’re a person on a cattle property ona hot dry day in inland Queensland, thelast thing to enter your mind could verywell be the beauty and health of the GreatBarrier Reef.However, you may not realise that someof the things we do on the land, even in theoutback, can impact on the Reef and itsseagrass, coral and mangrove habitats.All of our land and marine environmentsand habitats are linked, so what we do in oneplace can damage or help another place.That’s why communities, industries,governments and scientists are workingtogether on ways to reduce the effects of ouractivities on the Great Barrier Reef.IN THE PASTEuropean settlers came to Australia, theycleared large areas of the land to make roomfor towns to be built, for cattle to graze andfor crops to grow.When vegetation is removed and heavyrain falls, a lot of the good topsoil and itsnatural nutrients are washed away intorivers, creeks and out to sea. Withoutvegetation in these areas, there is nothing tohold the soil together, so more nutrients andsediments are discharged to our waterwaysand the Great Barrier Reef.With the establishment of many townsand cities along the coast, more nutrientsand other pollutants and rubbish includingplastic bags have found their way intothe environment.In some areas, chemicals and nutrientsthat are used in homes and to help growcrops also wash into the rivers and out intothe Great Barrier Reef.Many farmers and city dwellers are nowthinking of new ways to reduce their impactson the Great Barrier Reef.PROTECTING IMPORTANT HABITATSIf we want to protect our magnifi cent GreatBarrier Reef, we need to look after all thehabitats within and surrounding it.all It’s connected!The primary habitats to think about arewetlands, mangroves, seagrass areas andsoft bottom inter-reefal areas.Mangroves are important to the life of theGreat Barrier Reef because they can act asnurseries for baby fi sh and prawns that latergrow up and move out to the reefs.They are also home to a large range of birdlife and they act as a buffer between the landand the sea.Seagrasses are also nursery areas andare where the endangered dugongs fi ndtheir food. Some sea turtles also depend onseagrass for their meals.These areas are where we fi nd animalslike seahorses and pipefi sh.Other habitats most people don’t thinkabout are the soft bottom inter-reefal areas.They’re called soft bottomed because theyhave mud or sand on the seafl oor. Theseareas are where fi shers catch prawns.Inter-reefal areas are also home toan incredibly diverse group of animalsand plants.DOING YOUR BIT TO LOOK AFTER IT!If we act carelessly and pollute our landand streams we can damage our GreatBarrier Reef, seagrasses and mangrovesbeyond repair.We have to be very careful about how wedispose of rubbish and other toxic materialsand how we use our land.One of the things we can do is to alwaysbe mindful about what we put into our drainsand sewers.Even washing your car in the street ordriveway can result in detergents enteringour waterways and every time you poursomething down the sink, it may end upreaching the Great Barrier Reef.The seabed is alive with plants and creatures.30 The Cairns Post, Tuesday, April 12, 2005
8Wetlands- an oasis of lifereef beatriver to reefWetlands arepeaceful placesof great beauty.WETLANDS are amazingand complex waterwaysthat occur in manydifferent sizes and forms.Wetlands are land areas eithertemporarily or permanently coveredby water. Types of wetlands includeswamps, marshes, billabongs,saltmarshes, mudflats, coral reefs,mangroves, lakes and peatlands.Marine habitats like coral reefs,seagrass meadows, mudflats,mangrove estuaries, samphire saltmarshes, rocky marine shores andsand or pebble beachesare common forms ofmarine wetlands foundin and around the GreatBarrier Reef.Wetlands are oftenareas of great beautywhere people enjoythe scenery and gatherfor recreation.In all their forms, wetlands arevery special places.THE IMPORTANCE OF WETLANDSWetlands in catchments alongthe coast next to the Great BarrierReef Marine Park are vital for thelong-term protection of the GreatBarrier Reef.Wetlands support a diverserange of marine life and providehabitat, breeding and nurseryareas for birds, mammals, reptiles,amphibians, insects and many fishspecies such as barramundi andmangrove jack.Wetlands play an important rolein protecting water quality in theGreat Barrier Reef Marine Parkby helping to filter the sediment,nutrients and other pollutants fromthe waters that enter the GreatBarrier Reef.They are also important in:• preventing erosion• allowing sediments and nutrientsto settle out before entering theGreat Barrier Reef• protecting the coastline fromerosion and during destructiveevents such as cyclones.Wetlands are significant habitatsfor Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslanders as part of their culturalheritage, spiritual values andday-to-day living. Wetlands alsoprovide for recreational andtourism opportunities such asfishing and guided tours.Wetlands on farms buffer theeffects of floods by holding excesswater for a short time, reducing theseverity of flooding downstream.Wetlands provide diverse habitatsfor plants, birds and animals, manyof which feed on agricultural pests.Wetlands also make a farm a moreinteresting and pleasant place forpeople to work and live and theyprovide for added recreationalopportunities such as fishing.WETLANDS IN DANGERMore than 50 per cent of ourwetlands have been significantlyaffected through degradation or losssince European settlement.Catchments adjacent to theGreat Barrier Reef have beenextensively cleared and modifiedfor urban development, aquaculturedevelopment and agriculturalactivities such as cattle grazingand cropping.PROTECTING WETLANDSThe protection of wetlands iscritical to help ensure the survivalof the Great Barrier Reef.The preservation andrehabilitation of wetland areas isa major environmental priorityfor the Australian and QueenslandGovernment’s Reef Water QualityProtection Plan.Communities, industries andgovernments are working togetherto raise awareness of the effects ofwetland clearing and to help protectwetland areas for the future.A number of communityprojects have been developed tohelp prevent the decline of theseimportant environments.For information about how youcan become involved in a wetlandprotection project in your area,contact your local Council or yourlocal Regional Natural ResourceManagement Group at http://regionalnrm.qld.gov.au/about/regional.DOING THEIR BIT TO LOOK AFTER ITMany communities andfarmers are working together torehabilitate and revegetate naturalenvironments like wetlands.By revegetating riverbanks,wetlands and other areas aroundtheir farms, land managers arehelping to decrease the amountof nutrients and sediments thatare discharged into surroundingwaterways and in turn are helpingto improve the quality of water inthe Great Barrier Reef.These actions will help to ensurethe survival of the Great BarrierReef and all of the habitats,plants, animals and industriesit supports.The wetlands are a haven for diversity.Marine life relies heavily on the pristinewetlands for survival.30 The Cairns Post, Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Page 1: 8reef beatriver to reefRivers enter
Page 5 and 6: 8reef beatriver to reefsomewhere!go
Page 7 and 8: 8reef beatriver to reefWater testin

2005 Reef Beat posters 1-8 in Cairns Post.pdf - Great Barrier Reef ...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?