Wetlands
Read all about Waituna Wetlands here.
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, 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, landowners 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
Wetlands in Southland
For Wetlands in the Southland region, please visit http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/land-and-freshwater/wetlands/wetlands-by-region/southland/.
How can you help?
At your place, do you have…
- A boggy or swampy area of land?
- A place where plants and animals have adapted to wet conditions?
- An estuarine area, farm pond, old gravel pit or stock water reservoir?
- A duck pond?
- Or a wet, boggy area of wasteland you just don’t know what to do with?
If you do, then you just might want to get in touch with the Southland Wetlands Working Party to see what they can do for you!
What can you do to help restore and protect wetlands?
If you have a wetland on your property, there are a number of things you can do to help protect and restore this habitat:
- Ensure they are fenced off so stock can't get in
- Don't create drainage ditches near wetlands
- Establish a management plan for pest plants and animals
- Get involved with your local Landcare group
- Leave a legacy behind by legally protecting your wetland
What is in it for me?
You'll be helping the environment for now and ensuring it has a future. There are also some incentives, if you protect a wetland, you may qualify for various incentive packages, including:
- Assistance with fencing costs
- Planting plans and plants
- Rates relief
- Land purchase
- Farm management plans
- Pond construction advice
There may be other options we have not thought of. We welcome your suggestions on other ways to protect Southland's wetland areas.
Environment Southland is the brand name of Southland Regional Council.