Wetlands and Role in Water Conservation

The criteria for inclusion on the list are varied, but include being a rare or unique example of a type of wetland or providing habitat to endangered species.

Ramsar's member countries are committed to maintain the ecological character of their Wetlands of International Importance. Thus, once these sites are listed and their size is recorded, they should be protected from development, pollution and drainage.

Through its list of Wetlands of International Importance, Ramsar aims to develop and maintain an international network of wetlands which are important for the conservation of global biological diversity and for sustaining human life. Covering over , hectares in the Northern Territory, it contains extensive tidal flats, estuaries, mangroves, riverine wetlands and Melaleuca paperbark swamps, dominated by eucalyptus forest.

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In March an intergovernmental treaty was drawn up to protect a very special ecosystem. How does Ramsar designation protect wetlands?

Wetlands are areas of land where water covers the soil — all year or just at certain times of the year. Wetlands may be natural or artificial and the water within a wetland may be static or flowing, fresh, brackish or saline. There are even underground wetlands.

Wetlands are a critical part of our natural environment. They protect our shores from wave action, reduce the impacts of floods, absorb pollutants and improve water quality. They provide habitat for animals and plants and many contain a wide diversity of life, supporting plants and animals that are found nowhere else.

Wetlands provide an important range of environmental, social and economic services.

Many wetlands are areas of great natural beauty and many are important to Aboriginal people. Wetlands also provide important benefits for industry. For example, they form nurseries for fish and other freshwater and marine life and are critical to Australia's commercial and recreational fishing industries.