"Know your wetlands"

Andrea from Eden Terrace

World Wetlands Day on February 2 is being promoted as a great opportunity for Kiwis to get to know their local wetlands – often described as “the kidneys of the country”.
Wetlands filter, absorb and transform water contaminants, particularly run-off and shallow groundwater from farms, and help reduce the amount of undesirable elements reaching streams, rivers and lakes. However, over 90 per cent of the country's wetlands have been drained in the past 200 years, with North Island regions most affected.
“Wetland areas are also good at capturing carbon, it's a nature-based solution to climate change that is even more effective than tree planting. All up, wetlands have a disproportionately high benefit compared to other ecosystems.
“But New Zealand's wetlands need restoration and looking after; we urge councils to beef up their efforts to support and promote the great work being done by landowners and increase funding for restoration projects.”
www.nzherald.co.nz...