Townsville, where the tropical savanas meet the coast, has a large and unique variety of local ecosystems consisting of species of animals and plants that are not found anywhere else on our planet.

Our Unique Environment investigates the distinctive biodiversity of our region and demonstrates practical steps in enhancing our local habitats.

The School Shade Tree Program highlights the the importance of local native plants and "Why Trees are Great."

The program aims to reestablish trees into the school yard landscape providing shade and a natural learnscape facilitating an awareness and appreciation of our unique environment.

Students through the program can investigate:

• Why Trees are good (fact sheets!)
  
  
• Native plant identification
  
  
• How to plant a tree
  
  
• How to look after trees

The planting of shade trees in the school yard is a practical step to enhancing local habitatsand biodiversity.

Community Greening & Bush Care soon..

Mud and Mangroves

The intertidal environment is one of the most diverse, unique, colourful and biodiversity-rich ecosystems. The habitats of the intertidal zone are home to thousands of different types of marine invertebrates (animals without a backbone) and each individual habitat contains its own specialised suite of fauna and flora (an invertebrate city made up of diverse communites!!).

The intertidal areas at Rowes Bay are some of the most unique and special on the planet with species of invertebrates unique only to this environment (http://www.soe-townsville.org/rowesbay/index.html).

Students can investigate the diverse marine habitats of the intertidal zone at Rowes Bay in the field or in the class room (virtual tour). Habitats for study include:

• Mangrove Forests,
  
  
• Rocky Shorelines,
  
  
• Muddy Estuarine Creeks
  
  
• Sand Flats
  
  
• Rubble Reef Areas,
  
  
• Tropical Sponge Gardens;
  
  
• Inshore Reefs

The 'Dry Tropics' contains a diverse array of animal life, from the tiny to the very large. This resource aims to highlight the diversity of life in our biodiversity rich region.

Students can gain insight into the range of animal life around them, and can also investigate pressures on our biodiversity.

A pair of Brolgas (Grus rubicundus) Queensland's State Bird.

Students can investigate the biodiversity of the Dry Tropics undertaking:

• School yard fauna surveys

• An invertebrate trapping program

• The waterway bug identification program

• Construction of bird box's and,

Understand:

• Biodiversity health indicators - our unique frogs and butterflies

• Pressures from pest fauna

• Rowes Bay Intertidal Flats
  
  
• Sustainability in Engineeiring Services
  
  
• Waste Education Initiatives in Townsville
  
  
• Natural Resources & Environmental Forum (NaREF)
  
  
• A Centre for Excellence in Tropical Design