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Wetlands

Globally...

• Wetlands make up six percent of the Earth's surface.
• Hundreds of species of animals make their home in wetlands.
• Wetlands are also known as marshes, swamps, and bogs.
• They can be found in all regions of New Zealand.
• Wetlands are not necessarily 'wet' all year round.
• Wetlands can contain fresh water, salt water, or a combination of the two!

Locally...

• Freshwater wetlands encompass a wide variety of aquatic habitats that include swamps, bogs, stock ponds, lakes, springs, streams and river margins.  All of these types of wetlands exist in the Rotorua District.
• As Landcare Research outlines, wetlands are one of the most important ecosystems of the planet!
• Environment Bay of Plenty also has a fantastic factsheet on wetlands as part of its Lakes series.  This explains the connection between wetlands and our Lakes water quality.

 So what’s so important about Wetlands?

• Wetlands are an important part of the history and culture of hapu and whanau.
• Wetlands prevent flooding by holding water like a sponge.  By doing so, wetlands help keep river and stream levels normal, and filter and purify the surface water by removing nitrogen, phosphorus, and heavy metals.
• Wetlands accept water during storms and whenever water levels are high.  When water levels are low, wetlands slowly release water.
• Wetlands also release vegetative matter into rivers and lakes, which helps feed the fish.
• Many animals that live in other habitats use wetlands for migration or reproduction.  For example, many waterfowl nest in the reeds and grasses, but need shallow areas of water in order to wade for fish and aquatic life.  Amphibians often forage in upland areas, but return to the water to mate and reproduce.
• Wetland plants can be used for clothing mats and food, as well as a source of medicine and dyes.
• Floating wetlands are part of the solution to enhance the water quality of the Rotorua Lakes.
• A management plan for Lake Rotorua and Lake Rotoiti has been developed by Environment Bay of Plenty in partnership with Te Arawa and Rotorua District Council
• The Department of Conservation's information on wetlands for the Bay of Plenty highlights the fact that with less that 1% remaining of our wetland ecosystems, there is a lot of work to be done.
• While wetlands are truly unique, they must not be thought of as an isolated, independent habitat.  To the contrary, wetlands are vital to the health of all other ecosystems and creatures everywhere.
• Unlike most other habitats, wetlands directly improve other ecosystems.  Because of their many cleansing benefits, wetlands have been compared to kidneys - they help control water flow and cleanse the system.

What can you do to help protect local wetlands?

• Get involved in a local Care Group.  There are some great wetland restoration projects in the area.  The Hannah’s Bay community restoration project has developed an education resource for communities and schools focused on restoring wetlands and streams (note: this is a large file - approx 4MB).
• The Department of Conservation also has some great resources and projects to get involved in.
• Environment Bay of Plenty is responsible for the care and protection of the ecological systems that fall within the Bay of Plenty catchment area.

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