Published Monday, 02 February, 2009 at 07:00 AM
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation
The Honourable Andrew McNamara
Queensland leads the way restoring reef wetlands
The Bligh government today launched a suite of products to celebrate World Wetlands Day and protect the future of the State’s wetlands.
Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation Minister, Andrew McNamara, said the products—maps and a guide to rehabilitating wetlands—are among the best in Australia.
The Minister is in Townsville with Premier Anna Bligh, her Cabinet and the State's senior public servants for the Bligh Government's 13th Community Cabinet.
“Maintaining healthy wetlands in the Townsville and Burdekin region is crucial for the survival of the Great Barrier Reef and for the protection of Queensland jobs,” Mr McNamara said.
“Wetlands between Alligator Creek and Cape Bowling Green are of international significance and provide vital habitats for flora, birds, fish and insects,” he said.
“Queensland has invested $6 million in mapping wetlands and is the first state in Australia to achieve this on such a large scale - mapping 173 million hectares of land.
“Queenslanders now have access to information on all of the state’s 140,000 wetlands.
“Wetlands cover about 71,000 square kilometres of our state and range from rivers, creeks, shallow coastal waters, tidal flats, coral reefs, permanent and seasonal lakes to marshes, dams and reservoirs.”
Mr McNamara said the rehabilitation guideline was designed to help the community better manage wetlands in the Great Barrier Reef catchment.
“The guidelines have detailed information on how to plan and carry out wetland rehabilitation and manage the threats to wetland health,” Mr McNamara said.
“The methods are based on rehabilitation work done by wetland experts across the reef catchment, including seven sites in the Townsville and Burdekin.”
The products were delivered through the Queensland Wetlands Program as part of a $23 million commitment by the Queensland and Australian governments to protect and restore wetlands.
The rehabilitation guidelines were prepared on behalf of the Queensland Wetlands Program by WetlandCare Australia, a non-for-profit, non-government organisation dedicated to supporting the community to protect and repair wetlands.
The guideline is available by e-mailing wetlands@epa.qld.gov.au or can be downloaded free from WetlandInfo www.epa.qld.gov.au/wetlandinfo
World Wetlands Day commemorates the 1971 signing in Ramsar, Iran, of the Convention of Wetlands, an international treaty for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. Information on World Wetlands Day 2009 is on WetlandInfo.
Wetland fact file
• Wetlands are called the “kidneys of the reef” because they filter out sediments and nutrients that would otherwise impact on the reef lagoon
• Queensland has the most diverse range of wetlands in Australia
• The Gulf has the most wetlands in Queensland (51,195)
• 130 species of freshwater fish rely on wetlands for their entire life cycle
• Many fish, such as the barramundi, need wetlands to breed
• Wetlands provide habitat and food for 150 species of migratory and resident waterbirds
• There are more than 3000 species of plants in Queensland’s wetlands
Media contact: Emma Parnell 3336 8002
Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation Minister, Andrew McNamara, said the products—maps and a guide to rehabilitating wetlands—are among the best in Australia.
The Minister is in Townsville with Premier Anna Bligh, her Cabinet and the State's senior public servants for the Bligh Government's 13th Community Cabinet.
“Maintaining healthy wetlands in the Townsville and Burdekin region is crucial for the survival of the Great Barrier Reef and for the protection of Queensland jobs,” Mr McNamara said.
“Wetlands between Alligator Creek and Cape Bowling Green are of international significance and provide vital habitats for flora, birds, fish and insects,” he said.
“Queensland has invested $6 million in mapping wetlands and is the first state in Australia to achieve this on such a large scale - mapping 173 million hectares of land.
“Queenslanders now have access to information on all of the state’s 140,000 wetlands.
“Wetlands cover about 71,000 square kilometres of our state and range from rivers, creeks, shallow coastal waters, tidal flats, coral reefs, permanent and seasonal lakes to marshes, dams and reservoirs.”
Mr McNamara said the rehabilitation guideline was designed to help the community better manage wetlands in the Great Barrier Reef catchment.
“The guidelines have detailed information on how to plan and carry out wetland rehabilitation and manage the threats to wetland health,” Mr McNamara said.
“The methods are based on rehabilitation work done by wetland experts across the reef catchment, including seven sites in the Townsville and Burdekin.”
The products were delivered through the Queensland Wetlands Program as part of a $23 million commitment by the Queensland and Australian governments to protect and restore wetlands.
The rehabilitation guidelines were prepared on behalf of the Queensland Wetlands Program by WetlandCare Australia, a non-for-profit, non-government organisation dedicated to supporting the community to protect and repair wetlands.
The guideline is available by e-mailing wetlands@epa.qld.gov.au or can be downloaded free from WetlandInfo www.epa.qld.gov.au/wetlandinfo
World Wetlands Day commemorates the 1971 signing in Ramsar, Iran, of the Convention of Wetlands, an international treaty for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. Information on World Wetlands Day 2009 is on WetlandInfo.
Wetland fact file
• Wetlands are called the “kidneys of the reef” because they filter out sediments and nutrients that would otherwise impact on the reef lagoon
• Queensland has the most diverse range of wetlands in Australia
• The Gulf has the most wetlands in Queensland (51,195)
• 130 species of freshwater fish rely on wetlands for their entire life cycle
• Many fish, such as the barramundi, need wetlands to breed
• Wetlands provide habitat and food for 150 species of migratory and resident waterbirds
• There are more than 3000 species of plants in Queensland’s wetlands
Media contact: Emma Parnell 3336 8002