Wetlands Conservation
In the 1840s an estimated 1100 km² of wetland covered the lower Waikato area and Hauraki Plains. Since then 85 to 90% of New Zealand wetlands have been lost. The Department of Conservation (DOC) estimates of wetlands that remain in the Waikato are around 320 km², which is 25% of what we had. This figure includes Whangamarino (5,130.35 hectares), and Kopuatai Peat Dome (9,238.44 hectares). Roughly 80% of New Zealand’s remaining wetlands are in areas across the Waikato Region, mostly within the Waikato, Matamata-Piako and Hauraki Districts. Five of New Zealand’s wetlands are listed on the International Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar sites); there are three of them in the Waikato Region:
- Kopuatai Peat Dome
- Whangamarino Wetland
- Firth of Thames estuary
Read more about this topic: Hauraki Plains
Famous quotes containing the word conservation:
“A country grows in history not only because of the heroism of its troops on the field of battle, it grows also when it turns to justice and to right for the conservation of its interests.”
—Aristide Briand (1862–1932)