With community concerns about environmental issues such as global warming receiving scientific and political priority, there is a corresponding demand for mainstream environmental education initiatives. The plethora of information available regarding broad environmental issues can be intimidating to educators keen to foster an informed sense of stewardship in their students. We discuss how using local examples to illustrate more general environmental science provides a sensible and necessary approach to environmental education. Natural resource management based on sound science requires a knowledge of local biodiversity and sustainable agriculture. We present a case study in Far North Queensland where the Regional NRM body (Terrain NRM) facilitates partnerships with community and industry groups to provide teachers with access to relevant and accurate information, providing support and building capacity for educators. We describe how local learnings at the catchment scale build social capital around community awareness and vitality
