Today is #WorldWetlandsDay !

Wetlands are a critical part of our natural environment.

Why World Wetlands Day?

Nearly 90% of the world’s wetlands have been degraded since the 1700s, and we are losing wetlands three times faster than forests. Yet, wetlands are critically important ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, freshwater availability, world economies and more.

Did you know?!

There are wetlands in Burnie that have been nationally recognised in environmental awards?!

The Burnie wetlands at the Waste Management Centre, Mooreville Road are 'man made' and when constructed in 2016 they were one of the first wetlands in Australia to treat leachate to discharge to an inland waterway.

The leachate which forms as the old landfill breaks down, is treated in a series of ponds before discharging to a “wet infiltration forest – a swamp” for enhanced filtration before it discharges into the creek on the site. The discharge water quality exceeds EPA requirements.

Although this wetland didn’t form naturally, it is doing amazing things for our local environment. The wetland system, infiltration forest and waterway now have over 70 locally endemic species, which has increased biodiversity values and created new fauna habitats.

Find out more about the treatment wetland system for landfill leachate:

It is urgent that we raise national and global awareness about both coastal and freshwater wetlands in order to reverse their rapid loss and encourage actions to conserve and restore them.

World Wetlands Day is the ideal time to increase people’s understanding of these critically important ecosystems and what local communities can do to help.

Support World Wetlands Day and like our post on facebook.