Students at CQU Mackay will soon be able to participate in an important environmental monitoring program.

Dr Judith Wake, tutor in Environmental Science and a research officer with CQU’s Centre for Environmental Management is coordinator of the Mackay Mangrove Dieback Project. The project is funded by National Heritage Trust Funding to the Department of Primary Industries’ Queensland Fisheries Service and is designed to determine the cause of the widespread death of the grey mangrove in the Mackay region. In 2001, students from CQU along with community volunteers collected considerable amounts of valuable data on mangrove community structure and health. The volunteers found the work a challenging but very rewarding experience.

The monitoring program is continuing this year and will provide data on tree growth and survival and recruitment of seedlings, which should give an indication of whether the mangrove community is continuing to suffer dieback or is recovering. Dr Wake is hoping for an equally enthusiastic response from this year’s students and community members.

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Department of Primary Industries Fisheries Biologist, Dr. Meredith Campey and Central Queensland University Science student Clae Cummins, measure pneumatophore height of the grey mangrove.