The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s (GBRMPA) Reef Guardian program recognises the good environmental work undertaken by communities and industries to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
The program involves working closely with those who use and rely on the reef and its catchment for recreation or business, to help build a healthier and more resilient reef.
The Great Barrier Reef catchment area lies adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and comprises approximately 25% of the land area of Queensland. Forty drainage basins make up the catchment area, which drain directly into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. This connection from the land to the reef is recognised by Reef Guardian participants and their actions help to reduce their impacts on the catchment.
The program demonstrates that a hands-on, community-based approach can make a real difference to the health and resilience of the reef. Reef Guardians take on voluntary actions beyond what is required by law. These actions help to improve the economic sustainability of industries operating in the Great Barrier Reef Region and ensure the environmental sustainability of the Marine Park.
We are a Reef Guardian Council
The Reef Guardian Council program showcases environmentally sustainable practices undertaken by Councils in the Great Barrier Reef catchment.
The program includes 20 participating councils between Bundaberg and Cooktown, covering an area of 317,000km2 and a population of more than 1.1M people. Each council progresses a Reef Guardian Action Plan that outlines a variety of initiatives they are taking to contribute to Reef health and align with the Queensland and Australian Government objectives to improve the long-term outlook for the Reef, particularly the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan.
See our Reef Guardian Council Action Plan.
Reef Guardian Projects
Six projects totalling $920,000.00 were approved under the Reef Guardian Councils Program — Activating Local Council’s Reef Action Plans funding. The projects are:
- community feral pig program — $108,951.00 excluding GST
- alternative roadside vegetation trial — $85,115.00 excluding GST
- improvements to soil conservation and stormwater drainage — $243,000.00 excluding GST
- Priors Creek riparian restoration and interpretive walk — $153,236.00 excluding GST
- installation of solar panels — $150,600.00 excluding GST
- riparian restoration on private land — $179,098.00 excluding GST.