The article reflects on a personal experience in Port Douglas, highlighting its historical significance and natural beauty, particularly the St. Mary's by the Sea church and the adjacent reef. It details a community-driven initiative aimed at restoring coral populations using the Mars Assisted Reef Restoration System, involving marine biologists and cultural guides. The local tourism sector is also contributing by promoting reef-positive travel, emphasizing environmental education and conservation efforts, ultimately fostering a sustainable relationship between tourism and nature.
On my first night in Port Douglas, I walked past the historic St. Mary's by the Sea church, rebuilt after the 1911 cyclone that leveled the entire town.
Fortunately, the impacted portions of the reef have a helping hand thanks to the people actively working to restore coral populations with innovative gardening practices.
The technique involves finding pieces of broken coral that are still alive, then identifying the species and attaching the fragments with zip ties to what's called a Mars Assisted Reef Restoration System (MARRS).
Recently, the tourism marketing arm of Far North Queensland teamed up with Expedia for the Guardian of the Reef initiative, encouraging reef-positive travel and education.
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