How wetlands can save us from climate change 

Maybe wetlands are one of those things you either love or hate. Perhaps just like Mangroves. They definitle not loved by property developers. Unless of course they are being developed by Wetlands Incorporated in Saddle Brrok , New Jersey. However, I digress. 

Here is New Zealand we are just as concerned about the effects of global warming as any country and have to acknowledge that in the past generations wetlands were drained to increase pastures. However, some areas such as peat lands and peat bogs are just to deep to totally clear and so they retain the basic features of a wetland. Fortunately there has a been a shift in public perception about the value of wetlands (and mangoves for that matter) and this have been accompanied by the rise in eco tourism. There is a National Wetlands Trust and the government department Department of Conservation oversees may areas of public wetlands.

One of the stringest advocates for wetlands, and also fo the protection and forests and birds is the New Zealand Forest and Bird Society.

[www.forestandbird.org.nz › resources › create-wetland ]

Here is an article written by them on and are of the North Island of New Zealand where I lived for a number yours including going to high school and Kapit College. I recall many years ago when there used to be fires in the peat area that would burn for weeks and make travel onlong the main highway hazardous because of the smoke.

New Zealand’s peat wetlands are more powerful than tropical forests at absorbing carbon.   

For World Wetlands Day today, Forest & Bird is releasing regional data to show wetlands are our secret resource in working to mitigate the effects of climate change. 

"The Government needs to introduce a plan to protect and recharge Aotearoa’s wetlands," says Forest & Bird freshwater advocate Annabeth Cohen.

“Only about 10 percent of our historic wetlands remain, and the few wetlands left are dwindling every day to make room for pasture or urban development.”

“If we save every remaining wetland, and double what we’ve got, there could be great gains for our wellbeing and for our climate goals.”

“Peat wetlands in particular are super carbon sinks. They hold twice as much carbon as all of the world’s forests combined, yet cover only about 3% of earth’s land surface.”

If you would like to read about what's happening on a more country wide scale the click on the link below.

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