2004
Wanted! Seas and Oceans - Dead or Alive?
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Let's protect pristine reef environments! |
85 percent of all Australians live within 15 kilometres of the coastline? The Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area consists of the world's largest system of coral reefs together with lagoon, seagrass, mangrove and estuarine communities. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park stretches over 2000 kilometres along Australia's northeast coastline and covers an area that is equivalent to 33 million football fields. Australia's marine environment supports tourism, commercial fishing, scientific research, shipping and recreational pursuits such as boating, fishing and diving.
World Environment Week 2004 allows us to recognise and celebrate the importance of the marine environment
The theme for World Environment Week 2004 is "Wanted! Seas and Oceans - Dead or Alive?"
This is a perfect opportunity to encourage schools to get "out of the four walls" of the classroom. It allows you to discover the importance of the marine environment through active participation and involvement with various environmental protection agencies that are responsible for management, protection and conservation of our local waterways and marine environments.
One of the many events that you will have the opportunity to participate in during World Environment Week is the Future Leaders Congress. It would be very much appreciated if your school could chose four student delegates to attend the Future Leaders Congress. The delegates would present answers to the following key questions:
What do you consider to be the three biggest threats to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area?
our great barrier reef
let's keep it great- How and why have these threats become so large?
- What impacts are these threats having on the Great Barrier Reef and humans?
- What could or should be done to reduce these impacts?
- How is your school trying to help solve these problems?
Our challenge to you is to encourage your teachers and fellow students to become involved in as many World Environment Week activities as they possibly can. We also challenge you to deliver the message of protection, conservation and sustainable use of marine ecosystems and environments in as many different ways as possible during World Environment Week. For example displays in your school or local library, talks during school assemblies, plays or skits during school assemblies or at lunchtime, writing letters to your local Member of Parliament. We are sure you can come up with allot more ideas than that! Remember, the marine environment is important to us all so "let's keep it great".
