World Wetlands Day 2021: a day to celebrate and highlight the vital role that wetlands play for so many species, as well as for the ocean, our climate, our communities, culture, and economies.
Last weekend the PCFML team celebrated World Wetlands Day at Toondah Harbour in the Redlands Shire east of Brisbane. Alongside BirdLife Australia, Redlands 2020 and the Australian Conservation Foundation over 130 people (restricted due to COVID) took part in the event to highlight the threats that globally migrating birds, sea turtles, dugongs, resident koalas and other species are facing if the enormous proposed development for residential apartments, retail shopping, a marina, hotel, port facilities and tourism infrastructure are approved to go ahead on top of this RAMSAR listed, internationally significant wetland.
Australia's wetlands are incredibly unique - providing diverse habitats and nursery grounds to a range of species.
Australia's wetlands are incredibly unique - providing diverse habitats and nursery grounds to a range of species (many of which are threatened and endangered), acting as carbon sinks (storing an estimated 35% of global terrestrial carbon, although covering only 6-9% of the earth's surface), filtering agricultural, residential and industrial runoff, sediment and pollutants before they make their way into the ocean, as well as providing a broad range of recreational, social, cultural and economic benefits to our communities.
Despite international conventions and voluntary commitments, which are designed to protect these vital areas, Australia's track record when it comes to managing our wetlands leaves much to be desired. Over the past seven years in South East Queensland alone, there has been a reduction of 280ha of wetlands recorded across the region, with only 45% of pre-clearing wetlands remaining.
Alongside BirdLife Australia, Redlands 2020 and the Australian Conservation Foundation over 130 people (restricted due to COVID) took part in the event to highlight the threats that globally migrating birds, sea turtles, dugongs, resident koalas and other species are facing.
As our new ecosystem-restoration and Blue Carbon-focused River Warriors projects continue to grow across Northern NSW and South East Queensland, we are working together with our project partners to raise awareness to the importance of these incredibly valuable ecological areas, highlighting that the long-term benefits of protecting them far exceeds the short-term gains of development.
The proposed destruction of internationally significant wetlands like Toondah Harbour is not uncommon. Wetlands around the state and around the country are facing similar threats and we need to unite to protect them before they are gone forever alongside our species, climate and lifestyle.
if you care about our wetlands and the future of the great outdoors, please sign our partner Birdlife Australia's petition.
Whether you're a local who loves to swim and/or paddle on your local creek, coastline or river; a conservationist who revels in the incredible array of species that these areas are home to; a fisher who understands the need to protect these vital nursery grounds; or a business who relies on the benefits that wetlands and other natural areas bring in terms of attracting tourists - if you care about our wetlands and the future of the great outdoors, please sign our partner Birdlife Australia's petition here: https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/.../petition-details... and stand up for our wetlands before they're gone forever.
Join us and stand up for our wetlands before they're gone forever.