This is a list of wetlands in Australia that are designated by the Ramsar Convention as sites of international importance. Under the convention, the wetlands are considered as being of significant value not only for the Australian community, but for humanity as a whole.
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands came into force for Australia on 21 December 1975 . As of 28 February 2018, Australia has 66 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance, with a total area of 8,342,175 hectares (20,613,960 acres). [1] [2] [3]
The management of Ramsar sites listed within Australia is controlled at national level by the Australian government via the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and its accompanying regulations, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000. [4] [5]
The act, as of 2015, lists the principles required for meeting treaty obligations in respect to "wetlands of international importance" including "environmental approvals" (i.e. sections 16-17B), the prerequisites for the making of both "declarations" and "bilateral agreements" (i.e. sections 34C and 37F, and 52 respectively), the approval process (i.e. section 138), "strategic assessments" (i.e. section 134J), and the management approach (i.e. sections 325 to 336 inclusive). [4]
The applicable regulation (i.e. regulation 10.02) lists three requirements as of 2015. Firstly, a set of general principles for management is described including the need for "public consultation," the involvement of parties with an interest and/or who may be affected by the management of wetland, as well as allowing for "continuing community and technical input." Secondly, the requirements for the management plan to be prepared for each listed wetland are described. Thirdly, the requirements for the "environmental impact assessment and approval" are described for parties wishing to undertake activities that are likely to have "a significant impact on the ecological character of a Ramsar wetland." [5] [6]
The following wetlands are located in the Australian Capital Territory: [1]
Name | Location | Coordinates | Area | Designated | Designation No. | Description [2] | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ginini Flats Subalpine Bog Complex | Namadgi National Park | 35°31′S148°46′E / 35.517°S 148.767°E | 125 ha (309 acres) | 11 March 1996 | RS793 |
The following wetlands are located in New South Wales: [1]
The following wetlands are located in the Northern Territory: [1]
Name | Location | Coordinates | Area | Designated | Designation No. | Description [2] | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cobourg Peninsula | Garig Gunak Barlu National Park | 11°15′S132°15′E / 11.250°S 132.250°E | 220,700 hectares (545,000 acres) | 8 May 1974 | RS1 | ||
Kakadu National Park (Stage 1) | Alligator Rivers, Kakadu National Park | 12°40′S132°45′E / 12.667°S 132.750°E | 683,000 hectares (1,690,000 acres) | 12 June 1980 | RS204 | ||
Kakadu National Park (Stage 2) | 12°30′S132°30′E / 12.500°S 132.500°E | 692,940 hectares (1,712,300 acres) | 15 September 1989 | RS441 | |||
The following wetlands are located in Queensland: [1]
Name | Location | Coordinates | Area | Designated | Designation No. | Description [2] | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bowling Green Bay | North Queensland | 19°27′S147°15′E / 19.450°S 147.250°E | 35,500 hectares (88,000 acres) | 22 October 1993 | RS632 | ||
Currawinya Lakes | South West Queensland | 28°45′S144°19′E / 28.750°S 144.317°E | 151,300 hectares (374,000 acres) | 11 March 1996 | RS791 | ||
Great Sandy Strait | Wide Bay–Burnett | 25°28′S152°54′E / 25.467°S 152.900°E | 93,160 hectares (230,200 acres) | 14 June 1999 | RS992 | ||
Moreton Bay | South East Queensland | 27°20′S153°10′E / 27.333°S 153.167°E | 113,314 hectares (280,000 acres) | 22 October 1993 | RS631 | ||
Shoalwater and Corio Bays | Central Queensland | 22°40′S150°17′E / 22.667°S 150.283°E | 239,100 hectares (591,000 acres) | 11 March 1996 | RS792 |
The following wetlands are located in South Australia: [1]
Name | Location | Coordinates | Area | Designated | Designation No. | Description [2] | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Banrock Station Wetland Complex | Riverland | 34°11′S140°20′E / 34.183°S 140.333°E | 1,375 hectares (3,400 acres) | 21 October 2002 | RS1221 | ||
Bool and Hacks Lagoons | Limestone Coast | 37°08′S140°41′E / 37.133°S 140.683°E | 3,200 hectares (7,900 acres) | 1 November 1985 | RS322 | ||
Coongie Lakes | Lake Eyre Basin | 27°27′S140°00′E / 27.450°S 140.000°E | 1,980,000 hectares (4,900,000 acres) | 1 June 1987 | RS376 | ||
Coorong and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert Wetland | Lake Alexandrina | 35°56′S139°18′E / 35.933°S 139.300°E | 140,500 hectares (347,000 acres) | 1 November 1985 | RS321 | ||
Piccaninnie Ponds Karst Wetlands | Limestone Coast | 38°3′3″S140°56′11″E / 38.05083°S 140.93639°E | 862 hectares (2,130 acres) [7] | 21 December 2012 | RS2136 | ||
Riverland Ramsar site [8] [9] | Riverland | 34°02′S140°51′E / 34.033°S 140.850°E | 30,600 hectares (76,000 acres) | 23 September 1987 | RS377 |
The following wetlands are located in Tasmania: [1]
The following wetlands are located in Victoria: [1]
The following wetlands are located in Western Australia: [1]
Name | Location | Coordinates | Area | Designated | Designation No. | Description [2] | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Becher Point Wetlands | Swan Coastal Plain | 32°23′S115°44′E / 32.383°S 115.733°E | 677 hectares (1,670 acres) | 5 January 2001 | RS1048 | ||
Eighty Mile Beach | Kimberley | 19°31′S120°40′E / 19.517°S 120.667°E | 125,000 hectares (310,000 acres) | 7 June 1990 | RS480 | ||
Forrestdale and Thomsons Lakes | Swan Coastal Plain | 32°09′S115°52′E / 32.150°S 115.867°E | 754 hectares (1,860 acres) | 7 June 1990 | RS481 | ||
Lake Gore | Goldfields-Esperance | 33°47′S121°29′E / 33.783°S 121.483°E | 4,017 hectares (9,930 acres) | 5 January 2001 | RS1049 | ||
Lake Warden System | Goldfields-Esperance | 33°48′S121°56′E / 33.800°S 121.933°E | 2,300 hectares (5,700 acres) | 7 June 1990 | RS485 | ||
Lakes Argyle and Kununurra | Kimberley | 16°19′S128°44′E / 16.317°S 128.733°E | 150,000 hectares (370,000 acres) | 7 June 1990 | RS478 | ||
Muir-Byenup System | South West | 34°29′S116°43′E / 34.483°S 116.717°E | 10,631 hectares (26,270 acres) | 5 January 2001 | RS1050 | ||
Ord River Floodplain | Kimberley | 15°15′S128°22′E / 15.250°S 128.367°E | 141,453 hectares (349,540 acres) | 7 June 1990 | RS477 | ||
Peel-Yalgorup System | Swan Coastal Plain | 32°49′S115°42′E / 32.817°S 115.700°E | 26,530 hectares (65,600 acres) | 7 June 1990 | RS482 | ||
Roebuck Bay | Kimberley | 18°07′S122°16′E / 18.117°S 122.267°E | 55,000 hectares (140,000 acres) | 7 June 1990 | RS479 | ||
Toolibin Lake | Wheatbelt | 32°55′S117°36′E / 32.917°S 117.600°E | 493 hectares (1,220 acres) | 7 June 1990 | RS483 | ||
Vasse-Wonnerup System | South West | 33°37′S115°25′E / 33.617°S 115.417°E | 1,115 hectares (2,760 acres) | 7 June 1990 | RS484 |
The following wetlands are located in the External territories: [1]
Name | Location | Coordinates | Area | Designated | Designation No. | Description [2] | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve | Ashmore and Cartier Islands | 12°15′S123°02′E / 12.250°S 123.033°E | 58,300 hectares (144,000 acres) | 21 October 2002 | RS1220 | ||
Coral Sea Reserves (Coringa-Herald and Lihou Reef and Cays) | Coral Sea Islands Territory | 17°04′S150°39′E / 17.067°S 150.650°E | 1,729,200 hectares (4,273,000 acres) | 21 October 2002 | RS1222 | ||
The Dales | Christmas Island | 10°28′S105°33′E / 10.467°S 105.550°E | 57 hectares (140 acres) | 21 October 2002 | RS1225 | ||
Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve | Coral Sea Islands Territory | 29°41′S159°06′E / 29.683°S 159.100°E | 188,000 hectares (460,000 acres) | 21 October 2002 | RS1223 | ||
Hosnies Spring | Christmas Island | 10°28′S105°41′E / 10.467°S 105.683°E | 1 hectare (2.5 acres) | 11 December 1990 | RS512 | ||
Pulu Keeling National Park | Cocos (Keeling) Islands | 11°50′S96°49′E / 11.833°S 96.817°E | 122 hectares (300 acres) | 17 March 1996 | RS797 |
Protected areas of Australia include Commonwealth and off-shore protected areas managed by the Australian government, as well as protected areas within each of the six states of Australia and two self-governing territories, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory, which are managed by the eight state and territory governments.
Protected areas of South Australia consists of protected areas located within South Australia and its immediate onshore waters and which are managed by South Australian Government agencies. As of March 2018, South Australia contains 359 separate protected areas declared under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, the Crown Land Management Act 2009 and the Wilderness Protection Act 1992 which have a total land area of 211,387.48 km2 (81,617.16 sq mi) or 21.5% of the state's area.
This is an index of conservation topics. It is an alphabetical index of articles relating to conservation biology and conservation of the natural environment.
The China–Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (CAMBA) is a bilateral treaty between Australia and China that aims to protect migratory birds and their environment between the two countries. Throughout all six Articles, the treaty defines what a migratory bird is, outlines key prohibitions for both contracting parties and determines the responsibilities of both nations to protect migratory birds and their habitats. The CAMBA was first developed on 20 October 1986, and came into force on 1 September 1988. Eighty-one bird species are listed in the agreement, as shown in the CAMBA Annex listed below.
The Towra Point Nature Reserve is a protected nature reserve that is located in Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales, in eastern Australia. The 603-hectare (1,490-acre) reserve is situated on the southern shores of Botany Bay at Kurnell, within the Sutherland Shire. The reserve is protected under the Ramsar Convention as a wetland of international importance as an important breeding ground for many vulnerable, protected, or endangered species. The Towra Point Aquatic Nature Reserve is located in the surrounding waterways.
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999(Cth) is an Act of the Parliament of Australia that provides a framework for protection of the Australian environment, including its biodiversity and its natural and culturally significant places. Enacted on 17 July 2000, it established a range of processes to help protect and promote the recovery of threatened species and ecological communities, and preserve significant places from decline. The Act is as of June 2020 administered by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Lists of threatened species are drawn up under the Act, and these lists, the primary reference to threatened species in Australia, are available online through the Species Profile and Threats Database (SPRAT).
Toolibin Lake is a seasonal fresh to brackish water perched lake or wooded swamp, in south-western Australia. The lake is contained with a 493-hectare (1,218-acre) nature reserve and it is located about 200 kilometres (124 mi) south-east of Perth, in the Shire of Narrogin, and 40 kilometres (25 mi) east of the town of Narrogin, in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. The lake is listed by the Australian Government as a threatened ecological community under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Banrock Station Wetland Complex is a wetland complex located in South Australia which has been recognised as being of international importance by designation under the Ramsar Convention. It was listed on 21 October 2002 as Ramsar site 1221. It lies in the Riverland region of south-eastern South Australia and is adjacent to the Murray River. It is a floodplain wetland subject to an ongoing environmental restoration program by a commercial organisation which manages the wetlands and promotes ecologically sustainable land use practices. In 2002 Banrock Station Wines received the Ramsar Wetland Conservation Award in recognition of its conservation efforts.
The Society of Wetland Scientists is an international, professional non-profit organization whose mission is to promote best practices in wetland research, education, conservation, preservation, restoration, and management. The SWS vision is to ensure that wetlands are understood, their importance recognized, and sound wetland science is used as a guide for wetland professionals and the general public to collaborate on research, conservation, preservation, restoration, and management of wetlands in our changing environment. Based in Washington DC, United States, SWS has 3000+ members worldwide, and the membership is open to anyone with an interest in wetlands.
Chowilla Regional Reserve is protected area in the Australian state of South Australia located in the gazetted locality of Chowilla about 250 kilometres (160 mi) north-east of the state capital of Adelaide.
Chowilla Game Reserve is a protected area covering the floodplain on the north side of the River Murray in South Australia from about 8 kilometres north-east of Renmark to the New South Wales border. It was proclaimed 8 April 1993 in conjunction with the Chowilla Regional Reserve, after a community consultation process which recommended that "hunting of waterfowl be a permitted activity in selected areas of the Chowilla floodplain". The game reserve is classified as an IUCN Category VI protected area.
A Regional Reserve is a type of protected area used in South Australia that allows the use of natural resources in conjunction with the protected area's conservation function. This class of protected area was first used in 1988 for the Innamincka Regional Reserve and as of 2015, there are seven regional reserves that cover an area of 93,400 square kilometres (36,062 sq mi) or 9.5% of South Australia's land area.
Calperum Station, also known as Calperum Reserve, is a nature reserve located in the east of the Australian state of South Australia about 10 kilometres north-west of the town of Renmark and about 250 kilometres east of the state capital of Adelaide. Calperum Station consists of three separate pastoral leases - Calperum, Calperum Road and Yubalia.