Wetlands are a forgotten habitat and many people under-rate their importance. Over 90 percent of New Zealand’s wetlands have been drained or filled.
Most threats to wetlands come from human activity.
Just a few changes in the way land is managed can make a big difference to water quality and wetland conservation.
Threats
- possible removal of water for irrigation and stock water
- reduced water quality from sediment and nutrient farm run-off
- Nutrient run off from farmland into waterways
- emerging weeds such as broom and Russell lupins
- didymo and other freshwater pests
- damage from vehicles, rabbits, hares and stock
- threats to native and at-risk species from predators.
Management
- recording plant, bird, lizard, invertebrate and fish populations
- monitoring programmes for the above species
- listing cultural values and setting up a taonga monitoring programme
- weed control
- researching bird breeding success and habitat use
- fencing riparian margins
- raising awareness of wetland values
- planning for responsible recreational use
- ongoing pest control.
Responsible recreation
The Ashburton Lakes are used for many different recreational activities. It is important that people who use them and the surrounding areas follow the environmental care code:
- protect plants and animals
- remove rubbish
- bury toilet waste more than 50 metres from waterways
- keep streams and lakes clean
- take care with fires
- camp carefully
- keep to the track
- consider others
- respect our cultural heritage
- toitu te whenua (leave the land undisturbed).
Also Check, Clean, Dry all items before entering or moving between waterways to stop the spread of didymo.
