Wetland Management
Wetland Health Assessment Techniques Manual
Funded by the NSW Government’s Environmental Trust, the Estuarine Wetland Health Assessment Project has been developed with the aim of developing a methodology for rapidly and simply assessing the health of estuarine wetland ecosystems that require management, conservation and/or rehabilitation. This has been achieved in the form of the Wetland Assessment Techniques Manual for Australian Wetlands. This manual also includes assessments for other types of wetlands including Freshwater ecosystems.
The manual guides users through a series of steps aimed at recording a range of measurements and observations in the field and by utilising simple desk-top techniques. A series of short calculations are undertaken using field and desktop information which generates health ratings for a number of key wetland component indicators.
Underpinning the development of this manual has been the following components;
- Assessment of 80 wetlands in the Tweed, Brunswick, Clarence and Richmond catchments.
- Establishment of a database for the production of health summary reports.
- Estuarine wetland health mapping and priority wetland listings.
Highlights of the Wetland Assessment Techniques Manual for Australian Wetlands include:
- designed for use by all interested landholders, community groups, and natural resource managers
- simple, user-friendly set of techniques for rapid assessment of wetland health
- complements existing Paperbark Swamp Complex and Open Freshwater Wetland Condition Assessment Techniques
The information obtained from these assessments will;
- Enable informed decisions
- Contribute to established database
- Rationalise and focus wetland investment
- Record baseline information or monitor change over time
The manual provides an invaluable tool in developing strategies and focussing resources to arrest the alarming decline in the extent and health of our coastal wetlands.
Electronic copies of the Wetland Assessment Techniques Manual for Australian Wetlands are now available from WetlandCare Australia. For more information please contact us on (02)66816169 or ballina@wetlandcare.com.au
For more information see:
Estuarine Wetland Health Assessment
Estuarine Wetland Health Assessment Brochure
