Issue: Human response - policy and management - Habitat management (including wetland management)
This is an issue under the Inland waters theme of the Data Reporting System.
Why we need to know about this issue
Effective management is critical to the maintenance of aquatic and riparian habitats, including wetlands. Management needs to ensure that human demands on freshwater systems are met while enhancing rather than compromising the ecological integrity of the aquatic environment.
The Convention on Wetlands, signed in Ramsar, Iran in 1971 (more commonly known as the Ramsar Convention) is an intergovernmental treaty dedicated to the conservation and "wise use" of wetlands. The Convention encourages the designation of sites containing representative, rare or unique wetland types, or that are important for conserving biological diversity. These sites need to be managed to ensure their special ecological values are maintained or improved.
Modified river flows strongly influences inland aquatic ecosystem health. The natural flow regimes of many regulated river systems have been modified because of water extractions and the use of rivers as irrigation and water supply channels. The COAG Water Reform Framework includes provisions for the allocation of water for the environment
Habitat management also includes groundwater management. As there are thousands of groundwater dependent ecosystems in Australia, the current challenge is to identify them all and their environmental water requirements. Environmental water allocations have generally not been determined and so protection mechanisms for groundwater dependent ecosystems are not in place. If water requirements for groundwater dependent ecosystems were to be met then many sustainable yield estimates would have to be reduced.
Indicators
- IW-45 Groundwater management plans that consider groundwater dependent ecosystems
Groundwater management plans that consider groundwater dependent ecosystems indicate a focus on habitat management. - IW-48 Ramsar wetlands with implemented management plans
Number of sites with implemented management plans is indicative of the seriousness and likely effectiveness of the policy and management response to the needs of important wetlands.
Related issues
- Inland Waters - Human response - policy and management- Management of aquatic biota and biodiversity
- Inland Waters - Catchment scale influences- Hydrological condition- Ecological aspects of river flow regimes
- Inland Waters - Habitat scale influences- In-stream habitat - woody debris and sand slugs
- Inland Waters - Human response - policy and management- Environmental flows allocation and management
Key
Links to another web site
Links to data in the DRS
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