World Wetlands Day isn’t just about celebrating the biodiversity of our swamps, mangroves, and billabongs; but a time to honour the deep cultural heritage connected to them.
The 2026 theme is “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge,” a reminder that for millennium, First Nations peoples in Australia have successfully managed and cared for these vital ecosystems.
Wetlands are more than just water filters or carbon sinks; they are living cultural landscapes. They are pantries, pharmacies, and places of deep spiritual significance. From the sophisticated fish traps of Brewarrina to the rich food bowls of Kakadu, Indigenous knowledge offers us the blueprint for sustainable wetland management.
In Australia there are 66 Ramsar sites wetlands of international importance covering about 8.3 million hectares. These sites include iconic wetlands such as Kakadu National Park, Roebuck Bay, Gippsland Lakes, Moreton Bay, Blue Lake, Macquarie Marshes and the Coorong.
Protecting these amazing ecosystem requires listening to and learning from the Traditional Custodians who know this Country best.
