World Wetlands Day a success in the Hunter
WetlandCare Australia celebrated World Wetlands Day in the Hunter by hosting an event at Hunter Wetlands Centre, Shortland Road Sandgate.
13 volunteers from Conservation Volunteers Australia and the Wetlands Centre braved the rain to plant over 200 local natives on the shore of Water Ribbon Swamp to improve habitat for waterfowl, egrets and shorebirds.
Morning tea was a great chance for community conservationsists and land managers to catch up and swap notes.
Then Chris Herbert from Hunter Bird Observers Club presented an informative slide show on shorebirds with superb close-up photography. 30 attended the slideshow, including Max Maddock, founding chairman of the Hunter Wetlands Centre, and his wife Heather.
Hunter Region Coordinator Louise Duff said “World Wetlands Day was a great way to make a difference to a local wetland and learn about the epic journey of migratory shorebirds that visit the Hunter Estuary each year.”
The event was supported by Hunter Bird Observers Club, Hunter Wetlands Centre and the NSW Government through the Environmental Trust.
2 February each year is World Wetlands Day. It marks the adoption of the Ramsar Convention to promote wise use and protection of wetlands. Wetlands provide a wealth of eco-services including flood control, water purification and climate change mitigation. They are reservoirs of biodiversity.
In Newcastle, much of the Hunter Estuary including Shortland Wetlands is a Ramsar wetland of international significance and the most important shorebird site in NSW.
“It is so exciting to have a site of international importance on our doorstep. The people of the Hunter region should be very proud of this natural asset” said Ms Duff.
