The Victorian Government has released a report detailing the condition of wetlands throughout the state, concluding that despite over 13 years of drought, the majority of the state’s high value wetlands were in either ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ condition.

 

The Victorian Department of Sustinability and Environment (DSE) released the results of the assessment of almost 600 high value wetlands undertaken in 2009-10, marking the first time in Australia a state-wide assessment of wetland condition had ever been completed.

 

"The fact that more than half of Victoria's high value wetlands were in good or excellent condition, even though at the time of the assessment it had been incredibly dry, reflects the resilient nature of wetlands and the work undertaken to protect them," State Minister for the Environment Ryan Smith said.

 

"For the first time we now have a state-wide condition report of wetlands which can be used to identify threats, be a foundation for policy and help develop suitable management programs.

 

"The condition assessment results provide a baseline which will help monitor changes over time and measure the effectiveness of wetland protection and enhancement programs."

 

Victoria has around 13,000 natural wetlands which vary greatly in character, ranging from lakes, floodplain billabongs, alpine peatlands, marshes, shallow freshwater wetland and saline wetlands.

 

The high value wetlands for the 2009-10 assessment were chosen because of their priority for appropriate management.

 

High value wetlands are those that are recognised as being significant for their environmental values.

 

They include Victoria's Ramsar sites which are listed as internationally important under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and wetlands listed in A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia.

 

The wetlands were assessed using six components that are critical to the function of wetlands – the condition of the wetland catchment, the physical form, the hydrology, the water properties, the soil and the vegetation.

 

Wetland results:

  • 24% excellent condition
  • 32% good condition
  • 30% moderate condition
  • 14% poor
  • 1% very poor

 

The full report can be found here