Water for the environment: wetlands

	Wetlands Facts About Wetlands What is a wetland? The Location and Extent of Wetlands in NSW Types of Wetlands in NSW The loss of Wetlands in NSW Threats to the Wetlands of NSW Why are Wetlands so important? Wetland Plants and Animals Wetlands and Groundwater Wetlands of International and National Importance Summary of Wetland Fact Sheets References and Further Reading   Search:  [ HOME ] [ CONTACT ]		The loss of Wetlands in NSW   It is difficult to know how many wetlands have been significantly altered or destroyed since European settlement. However, Australia-wide, one estimate indicates that approximately 50% of wetlands have been lost since European settlement (Finlayson and Rea, 1999). In highly populated areas of Australia this figure is estimated to be as high as 90% (ANCA, 1996). Studies in particular areas of New South Wales suggest the following losses: Inland NSW: There has been a 40 to 50% decline in the area of the Macquarie Marshes (Kingsford & Thomas 1995). Keyte (1992) recorded a 75% decline in the area of some Gwydir River wetlands over a 20 year period. Over 45% of the area of the NSW Murray River wetlands have been degraded by regulated flows (Pressey, 1986). Sixty-two per cent of the total area of open water wetlands on the mid – Murrumbidgee River are affected by locally changed hydrologic regimes (Finlayson and Rea, 1999). Coastal NSW: Sixty percent of coastal wetlands have been lost or degraded over the past 200 years (Bowen et al., 1995). Approximately 70% of some wetland types in coastal areas have been lost over the last 200 years (Goodrick, 1970). Sixty percent of valuable waterfowl habitat on the coast has been lost (Goodrick, 1970). In the Sydney region, 50% of the area of pre-European freshwater wetlands and 80% of saltmarsh area have been lost in the past 200 years (Stricker, 1990). Tablelands: Eighty per cent of freshwater wetlands on the New England Tablelands have been destroyed since settlement. The remaining 20% have nearly all been drained or dammed (Brock et al., 1999). Most of the remaining areas of wetlands in NSW have been degraded in some way and/or are vulnerable to further degradation. An overview of the major activities that have led to the loss of wetlands in NSW are described in the Threats to the Wetlands of NSW pages of this site.
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