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Nestled amidst Southland’s natural landscape are some of the most valuable ecosystems on earth – wetlands. Yet how many of us recognise the true value of what lies on our environmental
doorstep? Over the past 200 years agricultural and urban development has resulted in the destruction of more than 90% of New Zealand’s original wetlands – one of the highest losses recorded
in the world. Southland however has retained around 37% of original wetland area (compared with 1% in other regions), yet many of these are under threat or not known about.
But hope is at hand for Southland’s enormous wetland wealth – and it comes in the form of the Southland Wetlands Working Party – a diverse bunch of people representing local government,
environmental agencies, landowner and community interests – and whose mission it is to spark your interest in the true environmental importance of wetlands.
What is a Wetland?
A wetland is a place where the ground is permanently or periodically wet and which supports a natural ecosystem of plants and animals.
Wetlands in Southland are widespread and diverse, occurring from the coast to the mountains, beside lakes and streams and the sea. There can also be wetland sequences, from swamp and peat
land areas to shrub lands then forest. There are different types of wetlands including:
- Created and restored wetlands: duck ponds, open water, reversion of wastelands
- Swamps: include areas of open freshwater, pond margins, backwashes and backwaters, and valley floor areas
- Peatlands and peat bogs: areas of peaty soil of low fertility
- Coastal wetlands or salt marshes: estuarine and lagoon areas e.g. Awarua Bay, Te Waewae Lagoon, and the Waituna lagoon
- Alpine wetlands: include tarns in mountain areas
Wetlands support the highest proportion of endangered species of any terrestrial habitat on earth. They are an important "genetic reservoir" for certain species of plants and their
contribution to biodiversity is essential to the healthy functioning of our environment.
Wetlands are very sensitive to changes in climate, water availability, disturbance and land use and they are extremely vulnerable to the effects of human activity.
What's so Great About Wetlands?
- They act as a filter – recycling bad nutrients into good ones
- They are part of the hydrological cycle – which means they are a godsend during flood events
- They act as a buffer zone – protecting streams and waterways on your farm from erosion and nutrient loading
- They're great to fish in, duck shoot off and have picnics around
- Native species – birds, fish and plants – just love them