Waituna Wetlands Scientific Reserve
Encyclopedia
The Waituna Wetlands Scientific Reserve is a peatland area of 3556 hectares (8,787.1 acre) in the Southland Region
of New Zealand
. It was designated as having international significance under the Ramsar Convention
in 1976. It was extended on 28 August 2006, and is now part of the 16000 hectares (39,536.8 acre) Awarua Wetlands, which includes Awarua Plains Wetland, New River Estuary, Mataura Estuary, Toetoes Harbour, Sand Spit, and Toetoes Wetlands.
Conservation Minister Steve Chadwick unveiled a plaque at New River Estuary on 4 May 2008. This wetland is unique in New Zealand as it includes privately owned ground (Gamble, Nicol, and Rance families).
On the northeast corner of the Toetoes Wetlands is an area of native bush of approximately 25 hectares (61.8 acre), which along with other areas of bush close by was covenanted to the QEII Trust by the Nicol Family. While not a true wetland it is an area of natural vegetation with an unmodified stream flowing from the wetlands through native brush and into the Mataura river. It is a small sanctuary for the declining native fresh water fish population.
Intensive farming in the catchment for the wetland has raised fears that the lagoon may soon begin to suffer from eutrophication
.
Southland Region
Southland is New Zealand's southernmost region and is also a district within that region. It consists mainly of the southwestern portion of the South Island and Stewart Island / Rakiura...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It was designated as having international significance under the Ramsar Convention
Ramsar Convention
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, i.e., to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural,...
in 1976. It was extended on 28 August 2006, and is now part of the 16000 hectares (39,536.8 acre) Awarua Wetlands, which includes Awarua Plains Wetland, New River Estuary, Mataura Estuary, Toetoes Harbour, Sand Spit, and Toetoes Wetlands.
Conservation Minister Steve Chadwick unveiled a plaque at New River Estuary on 4 May 2008. This wetland is unique in New Zealand as it includes privately owned ground (Gamble, Nicol, and Rance families).
On the northeast corner of the Toetoes Wetlands is an area of native bush of approximately 25 hectares (61.8 acre), which along with other areas of bush close by was covenanted to the QEII Trust by the Nicol Family. While not a true wetland it is an area of natural vegetation with an unmodified stream flowing from the wetlands through native brush and into the Mataura river. It is a small sanctuary for the declining native fresh water fish population.
Intensive farming in the catchment for the wetland has raised fears that the lagoon may soon begin to suffer from eutrophication
Eutrophication
Eutrophication or more precisely hypertrophication, is the movement of a body of water′s trophic status in the direction of increasing plant biomass, by the addition of artificial or natural substances, such as nitrates and phosphates, through fertilizers or sewage, to an aquatic system...
.
External links
- Awarua Wetlands at the Department of Conservation
- Waituna at Environment Southland