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| WETLANDS |
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What
is a Wetland?
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated
with moisture either permanently or seasonally. Such
areas may also be covered partially or completely by
shallow pools of water.
They come in many different guises, including bogs,
streams, swamps, lakes, lagoons, estuaries, mudflats
and flood plains. The water found in wetlands can be
saltwater, freshwater, or brackish.
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The
Wetland Ecosystem
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Wetlands
are considered the most biologically diverse of all ecosystems.
Plant life found in wetlands
includes mangrove, water lilies, cattails, sedges, tamarack, black
spruce, cypress, and many others.
Wetland plants include 47 species of rush and 72 species of native
sedge. Many of these plants
have very specific environmental needs and are extremely vulnerable
to change. A number of New
Zealand’s endangered plant species depend totally on wetlands.
Wetlands support the greatest concentrations of bird life of any
habitat in New Zealand. Animal life
includes many different amphibians, reptiles, birds, & mammals.
In the past 150 years New Zealand
has lost about 90% of its wetlands due to draining for farming.
Many remaining wetlands are also
degraded due to pollution, grazing, drainage and presence of invasive
plants. It is no wonder that
New Zealand is therefore home to two of the most endangered waterfowl
in the world. The Whio
(Blue Duck) & the Pateke (Brown Teal) are only found in New
Zealand and face serious threat.
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The
benefit of Wetland Ecosystems
Wetlands are crucial for a healthy environment,
and their benefits touch us all. They:
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produce clean water for people and animals
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reduce the impacts of floods and droughts
- help keep rivers flowing & recharge underground water
- provide recreation for thousands of people
- are home to 60 species of birds (not to mention fish,
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insects,
reptiles & amphibians) |
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| WETLAND
CARE |
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Ducks
Unlimited are commited to
Wetland Care NZ, click the above
link to read about some of our work
in this area. |
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| CLICK
HERE TO VISIT PAGE |
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WETLAND
LOCATIONS |
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Visit
the Department of Conservation's
Website for locations & news about
some of New Zealand wetlands. |
| CLICK
HERE TO VISIT SITE |
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