Wetlands are special because they are nature’s multi-taskers - rich, complex ecosystems that provide life-support for both wildlife and people. Here’s why they stand out:

🌿 They’re biodiversity hotspots

Wetlands support more life per square metre than most other ecosystems. Frogs, fish, turtles, insects, birds, and plants — many rare or endangered - rely on wetlands to breed, feed and thrive.

💧 They clean and store water

Wetlands act like natural filters, removing pollutants from water and improving the health of rivers, lakes and groundwater. They also store water during wet times and slowly release it during dry ones — a natural buffer against droughts and floods.

🐸 They protect threatened species

Many of Australia’s most iconic and vulnerable species like the Growling Grass Frog, Brolga, and Australasian Bittern, depend on wetlands for survival.

🛶 They hold deep cultural meaning

For First Nations peoples, wetlands are places of knowledge, identity, story and connection to Country. They’ve been cared for through cultural land management for tens of thousands of years.

🌏 They help fight climate change

Wetlands store large amounts of carbon in their soils and vegetation. When protected, they slow climate change. When drained or destroyed, they release carbon back into the atmosphere.

🌾 They connect land, water and people

Wetlands sit at the heart of our natural systems, linking catchments, supporting agriculture, and sustaining communities. When wetlands are healthy, landscapes are more resilient.