27 January 2011

Aucklanders urged to explore our precious wetlands

Aucklanders are being encouraged to explore Auckland’s precious remaining wetlands with World Wetlands Day coming up next month, themed ‘wetlands and tourism’.

Auckland Council Acting Biodiversity Manager Jonathan Boow says there are a range of notable wetlands around the region Aucklanders can visit to gain an appreciation of their valuable role, biodiversity and natural beauty.

“Wetlands support a great diversity of plants, insects and wildlife, including many endangered species, they also provide other vital functions such as helping to improve water quality and reduce flood risks,” Mr Boow says.

“Unfortunately many people under-rate their importance and over 90% of New Zealand’s wetlands have been destroyed, so they are amongst our rarest and most at risk ecosystems.

“Consequently Auckland Council is actively working to restore, maintain and improve wetlands around the region, and to improve public awareness about their importance. In addition we support many community-led wetland initiatives, including through our Environmental Initiatives Fund which in the latest round of annual funding provided grants to numerous wetland projects.”

Mr Boow says the World Wetlands Day 2012 focus on wise use and sustainable tourism of wetlands is a theme council fully supports.

“Wetlands have much to offer in environmental, educational and recreational terms and we’d like more Aucklanders to discover their values and benefits while exploring and enjoying them responsibly.”

Some of the best-known wetlands in the region include:
• The edges of the Waitemata, Manukau and Kaipara harbours;
• Whatipu and Te Henga wetlands, Waitakere Ranges Regional Park;
• Waiatarua Reserve, Remuera;
• Tahuna Torea Reserve, an extensive coastal wetland on a long sandbank extending into the Tamaki Estuary;
• The variety of wetlands at Tawharanui Regional Park;
• The dune lakes systems on the South Kaipara and Awhitu peninsulas;
• Kaitoke swamp and Whangapoua estuary on Great Barrier Island.

World Wetlands Day has been held annually since the 1971 adoption of an intergovernmental Convention on Wetlands which recognised the value of wetlands provides the framework for action and cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. The convention is the only global environmental treaty that deals with a particular ecosystem.

Over 90% of New Zealand’s wetlands have been drained, filled and modified for farming, urban or commercial development.

Those that remain are home to at lest 22% of our bird species and 30% of our native freshwater fish, with many of New Zealand’s wetland plants and animals found nowhere else in the world.

ENDS

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