On Saturday the 28th of October, Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA) invited Creative Recycling centre help to celebrate the Great Barrier Reef with the launch of the new catchment to coral citizen science project as part of ReefBlitz! The new initiative brought together multiple programs to help community members get involved in conservation and citizen science projects that help look after the Reef from catchment to coral.
Gladstone, Tannum, Boyne Island and Valley communities were encouraged to participate in ongoing monthly activities including marine debris surveys, reporting coastal sightings including marine turtle nesting locations through the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Sightings app, removing coastal weed species and revegetating dunes across six sites in the region. On the day the community joined in a range of activities, including:
Sand dune restoration and planting
Marine Debris and micro plastics surveys
Learning creative ways we can reuse, reduce and recycle
Meeting with local representatives from local experts in all things Catchment to Coral and learn how to get involved in local ongoing Reef Care activities
This was a great opportunity to learn about the local environment and how you can lend a helping hand by participating in citizen science and coastal restoration activities.
Creative Recycling centre’s recycled artist Rosemary Anderson will hold workshops during early 2018 with CVA’s volunteers to construct a Marine Debris sculpture with marine debris collected from our local beaches. This will be completed by Eco Fest 2018 and will be used by CVA as part of their education programs.
This Gladstone event and ongoing citizen science program is kindy supported by the Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership. The Great Barrier Reef Foundation are the founding partners of ReefBlitz.