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Around 125,000 hectares of lost wetland in public ownership could be restored, providing habitat for native species, and helping to protect Aotearoa against biodiversity loss and climate change, Forest & Bird (F&B) said.
A mapping analysis identified areas of historic wetland – now grassed but which remain in public ownership – that could be ideal sites for restoration, said F&B freshwater advocate, Tom Kay.
The analysis identified thousands of hectares of river and stream margins, farmland, conservation land, parks, and other areas in public ownership that could be considered for wetland restoration.
“We overlaid maps from the Central Record of State Land (CRoSL), the Land Cover Database, and predictions of historic wetlands, as well as maps from other sources,” Tom said.
“What we’ve discovered is a significant amount of public land – in slivers, pockets, and larger areas – managed by the Department of Conservation, Land Information New Zealand, and Pāmu (Landcorp Farming Limited), as well as regional and district councils and other public agencies, that was historically wetland and could be again.
“These spaces have been cleared or drained and are now grassed, but there is a golden opportunity for councils and the Government to restore many back into wetland ecosystems.”
Identifying potential areas for wetland restoration was one of the first steps in developing a national restoration plan and was a valuable move towards addressing biodiversity and climate crises, Tom said.
Wetland restoration would support the Government’s commitments and objectives under the Te Mana o te Taiao – Aotearoa New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy, the Emissions Reduction Plan, and the National Adaptation Plan, as well as the international Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
“The wetland restoration projects already happening around Aotearoa show what is possible. They are a clear indicator that more people are recognising the value of wetlands for carbon storage, climate resilience, biodiversity, and recreation,” Tom said.
“We now need Government and councils to commit to looking at these areas and refining the analysis using local data as well as insights from community groups and iwi, and then start restoring them.
“We’re aware that while some of these spaces might not be suited to restoration, others in both urban and rural areas would be ideal – we are really pleased to be able to help communities start having these conversations.”
Forest & Bird is aware of wetland restoration projects already underway in some of the areas identified in their analysis and commends the agencies leading those projects.
The analysis contributes to this year’s theme for World Wetlands Day, today, which highlights the urgent need to prioritise reviving and restoring wetlands around the globe.
