Wins for wetlands but climate change a challenge

A new report shows that although we’ve had some wins for wetlands in Aotearoa New Zealand, including millions of dollars in freshwater funding, climate change and wetland loss pose significant challenges.

The report notes that the condition of our Ramsar wetland network remains unchanged, however, the overall state on New Zealand’s wetlands has declined due to multiple pressures including land conversion, pollution and climate change.

New Zealand has seven wetland sites listed as internationally significant under the Ramsar Convention. They are: Wairarapa Moana; Farewell Spit (Golden Bay), Firth of Thames (Hauraki Gulf), Kopuatai Peat Dome (Hauraki Plains), Manawatū Estuary (Foxton, Horowhenua), Awarua-Waituna Lagoon (Southland), and Whangamarino Wetland (Northern Waikato).

All parties to the Ramsar Convention are required to regularly submit regular national reports to the Ramsar Secretariat.