Deterioration of wetlands threatens Great Barrier Reef
01 Feb 2007
The health of Australia's World Heritage Great Barrier Reef, which contributes nearly $6 billion to the Australian economy every year, is threatened by the deterioration of coastal wetlands and water quality, says WWF-Australia on World Wetlands Day.
Over 70% of wetlands along the Great Barrier Reef coast have been lost in some Reef catchments, with dire consequences for the quality of water and fish stocks on the Reef.
Wetlands act as the 'kidneys' of the Reef, keeping it healthy by filtering out sediments and pollution that would otherwise wash onto the Reef. Water quality plays an important role in boosting fish stocks on the Reef and keeping it viable for tourism operators.
Richard Leck, WWF-Australia's Marine and Coastal Policy Officer, said as climate change threatened the Great Barrier Reef with more frequent bleaching events, it was crucial to build resilience into the ecosystem by protecting water quality.
"Recently there has been global alarm about the drastic impacts that climate change will have on the Great Barrier Reef," Mr Leck said.
"These reports show that Australia needs to do everything possible to keep the Reef healthy enough to recover from the inevitable increase in severity and frequency of coral bleaching events. Protecting our wetlands is an important part of building the Reef's resilience," he said.
WWF is calling for the Federal Government to back its commitment to reducing land-based pollution flowing to the Reef by investing $300 million to protect wetlands and improving water quality over the next five years.
"Currently Queensland does not have adequate legislation to protect wetlands from coastal development and farming. New South Wales legislated 20 years ago to protect coastal wetlands. It's time Queensland did the same."
Wetlands throughout Australia are becoming increasingly threatened through lack of water flows, being drained, filled in, over-grazed or polluted. Even wetlands that have been declared significant enough to be 'Ramsar-listed' are facing significant declines in health.
Averil Bones, WWF's Freshwater Policy Manager, said stressed wetlands such as NSW's Macquarie Marshes, required immediate action.
"The Prime Minister must ensure the Commonwealth's new National Plan for Water Security improves the condition of wetlands of national and international environmental significance, including Ramsar wetlands such as the Macquarie Marshes," Ms Bones said.
For more information
Charlie Stevens, Press Officer, WWF-Australia
Phone: 02 8202 1274
Mobile: 0424 649 689
Email: cstevens@wwf.org.au
Richard Leck, National Marine and Coastal Policy Officer, WWF-Australia
Phone: 07 3839 2849
Mobile: 0439 814 847
Email: rleck@wwf.org.au
Averil Bones, Freshwater Policy Manager, WWF-Australia
Mobile: 0437 864 153
