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.
Australia is renowned for its beautiful, sunny summers but with that comes the reality of heatwaves. We can retreat indoors or cool off in a pool, our incredible native wildlife isn’t always so fortunate. Extreme temperatures can be devastating, leading to dehydration, heat stress, and even death for many animals.
Just like humans, animals need consistent access to water to regulate their body temperature and maintain essential bodily functions. During a heatwave natural water sources can dry up quickly, leaving animals vulnerable. They might have to travel long distances in extreme heat to find water, expending precious energy and increasing their risk of heat stress. Providing accessible water points can significantly reduce this struggle.
You Can Help Our Wildlife This Summer:
Provide water stations:
Refresh daily: Always use fresh, clean water. Stagnant water can become a breeding ground for bacteria and mosquitoes.
Clean regularly: Scrub dishes thoroughly to prevent algae and pathogen build up.
Place in multiple spots: Offer several water sources in different locations. This helps reduce competition and caters to animals with varying preferences or territorial ranges. Consider placing some in shaded areas and some in more open spots, ensuring visibility.
Use shallow dishes & rocks:
Safety first: Opt for shallow dishes or bowls to prevent smaller birds and mammals from drowning. A ceramic plant saucer is often ideal.
Add rocks or pebbles: Place a few rocks or stones in the dish. This provides a safe perch for birds to drink without getting fully submerged and offers an escape route for insects and small creatures if they fall in.
Avoid deep containers: Buckets or deep pet bowls can be dangerous drowning hazards for smaller animals.
Offer shade:
Natural cover: Plant native trees and shrubs in your garden to provide natural shade and cooler resting spots.
Artificial shade: If you don’t have ample tree cover, consider positioning a large umbrella, a piece of old tin, or even a shade cloth near your water station. This allows animals to drink and rest in cooler conditions, away from direct sunlight.
We all can make a difference by taking these simple steps in our backyard and local area. you can provide vital support and help our wildlife survive the scorching summer months. Remember, every drop of water and every patch of shade can make a world of difference to an animal fighting for survival.
Celebrate World Rivers Day with me for Riverfest at Parramatta Park. Riverfest is the Parramatta River Catchment Group’s annual event – celebrating the Parramatta River and surrounding creeks and environment!
I will be delivering FREE live virtual excursions on Monday 22 September.
Water and the Environment Trivia FREE live Virtual Excursion at 1pm on Monday 22 September
If you are in Sydney you can join me at RiverFest at Wistaria Gardens in Parramatta Park on Saturday 20 September.
A river is a natural watercourse flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of water.
World Wetlands Day is celebrated on 2 February every year. It is time for everyone to understand the importance of wetlands. This years theme is Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future. Wetlands are areas of land saturated or flooded with water permanently or seasonally. There are a variety of wetlands including:
Human-made wetlands: fish ponds, reservoirs, saltpans
Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth, providing essential services such as:
Water purification – Wetlands filter pollutants, improving water quality for both wildlife and humans.
Flood control – They absorb excess rainfall, reducing the impact of extreme weather events.
Biodiversity hotspots – Wetlands are home to countless species, from birds and fish to insects and amphibians.
Climate resilience – They store carbon, helping mitigate the effects of climate change.
Despite their importance, wetlands are disappearing three times faster than forests due to urban development, pollution, and climate change. By understanding and protecting these ecosystems, we can secure the future of our water resources and biodiversity.
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.
The main threats to wetlands in Australia are:
river regulation and water diversion
land reclamation and development
catchment disturbance
introduction of weeds and pest animals
climate change
This World Wetlands Day, take action to support wetland conservation:
Visit a local wetland – Explore these unique habitats and learn about the species they support.
Participate in a clean-up – Join a community group to remove litter and improve wetland health.
Plant native vegetation – Help restore wetland areas by planting trees and aquatic plants.
Educate others – Share knowledge about the importance of wetlands in classrooms and online.
I’m based in the Central Coast in NSW and it is surrounded by a number of estuaries and coastal lagoons, from Lake Macquarie in the north to the Hawkesbury River in the south. Within the Central Coast it is estimated there are about 870 hectares of mangroves, 190 hectares of saltmarsh and 1,780 hectares of seagrass.
Join us in celebrating World Wetlands Day 2025 by taking steps to protect these vital ecosystems. For more information and resources, visit https://www.worldwetlandsday.org and follow us for upcoming events and activities!
Check the health of your local wetland with the Wetland Audit.
World Rivers Day is a celebration of the World’s Waterways! It highlights the many values of our rivers, strives to increase public awareness, and encourages the improved stewardship of all rivers around the world. Rivers in virtually every country face an array of threats, and only through our active involvement can we ensure their health in the years ahead.
Celebrate World Rivers Day with me for Riverfest. Riverfest is the Parramatta River Catchment Group’s annual event – celebrating the Parramatta River and surrounding creeks and environment!
I will be delivering FREE live virtual excursions on Thursday 26 and Friday 27 September. If you are in Sydney you can join me at the Paint the River on World Rivers Day event at Paramatta Park on Sunday 29 September.
FREE live Virtual Excursion at 2pm on Thursday 26 September
A river is a natural watercourse flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of water.
A catchment is an area where water is collected by the natural landscape. A catchment is usually surrounded by hills or mountains. Gravity causes rain, melting snow and other water in the catchment to run downhill where it flows into creeks, rivers, lakes and eventually the ocean. The water that seeps below ground and settles in the soil and the space between rocks is called groundwater.
Today is World Water Day, the 22 March highlights the importance of freshwater. The day is used to promote the sustainable management of freshwater resources. This years theme of World Water Day 2024 is ‘Water for Peace’.
Water is essential for all life and is the most abundant substance on Earth, yet water scarcity is one of the biggest issues facing us today. Australia is the world’s driest inhabited continent and 2019 was on of the the hottest and driest year on record. Because of many years of dry conditions, the drought worsened in 2019, resulting in Australia’s driest year on record. With area-average rainfall of just 277.6 mm almost the entire continent was in drought.
However in many part of the world, Water can create peace or spark conflict. When water is scarce or polluted, or when people have unequal, or no access, tensions can rise between communities and countries. More than 3 billion people worldwide depend on water that crosses national borders. Yet, only 24 countries have cooperation agreements for all their shared water.
As climate change impacts increase, and populations grow, there is an urgent need, within and between countries, to unite around protecting and conserving our most precious resource. Public health and prosperity, food and energy systems, economic productivity and environmental integrity all rely on a well-functioning and equitably managed water cycle.
Even through water covers 75% of the earth’s surface, only a very small amount is freshwater that can be used directly by people, animals and plants. This is because:
97% of this water is in oceans and is too salty for people, animals or plants to use
2% is frozen at the north and south poles, in glaciers and on snowy mountain ranges
Only 1% is avaiable as freshwater in rivers, lakes and groundwater.
Water is essential for all life and is the most abundant substance on Earth, yet water scarcity is one of the biggest issues facing us today. Australia is the world’s driest inhabited continent and 2019 was the hottest and driest year on record.
The natural water cycle has been modified by people to ensure a constant water supply and the safe disposal of wastewater. The Urban Water Cycle incorporates the Water Supply System, Wastewater system and the Stormwater system.
Water is the most common substance found on earth, so why is it important? Water is essential for all forms of life and can dissolve nearly anything. It can exist as a gas (water vapour and steam), a liquid (water) and a solid (ice).
World Rivers Day is a celebration of the World’s Waterways!
It highlights the many values of our rivers, strives to increase public awareness, and encourages the improved stewardship of all rivers around the world. Rivers in virtually every country face an array of threats, and only through our active involvement can we ensure their health in the years ahead.
Australia has 439 rivers, many of these rivers are quite small and are tributaries that flow into larger rivers.
A river is a natural watercourse flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of water.
A meandering stream has a single channel that winds snakelike through its valley. As water flows around these curves, the outer edge of water is moving faster than the inner.
Today is World Water Day, the 22 March highlights the importance of freshwater. The day is used to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. This years theme is “Groundwater – making the invisible visible” and explores the importance of groundwater.
Water covers 75% of the earth’s surface, however only a very small amount is freshwater that can be used directly by people, animals and plants because:
97% of this water is in oceans and is too salty for people, animals or plants to use
2% is frozen at the north and south poles, in glaciers and on snowy mountain ranges
Only 1% is avaiable as freshwater in rivers, lakes and groundwater.
Groundwater is invisible, but its impact is visible everywhere. Our drinking water and sanitation, our food supply and natural environment–all these rely on groundwater.
Groundwater is critically important to the healthy functioning of ecosystems, such as wetlands. In deltas and coastal areas, groundwater also ensures the stability of the ground and prevents seawater intrusion under the land.
Groundwater is invisible, but its impact is visible everywhere.
Under our feet, groundwater is a hidden treasure that enriches our lives.
Almost all of the liquid freshwater in the world is groundwater.
As climate change gets worse, groundwater will become more and more critical.
We need to work together to sustainably manage this precious resource.
Groundwater may be out of sight, but it must not be out of mind.
Water is essential for all life and is the most abundant substance on Earth, yet water scarcity is one of the biggest issues facing us today. Australia is the world’s driest inhabited continent and 2019 was the hottest and driest year on record.
The natural water cycle has been modified by people to ensure a constant water supply and the safe disposal of wastewater. The Urban Water Cycle incorporates the Water Supply System, Wastewater system and the Stormwater system.
Water is the most common substance found on earth, so why is it important? Water is essential for all forms of life and can dissolve nearly anything. It can exist as a gas (water vapour and steam), a liquid (water) and a solid (ice).
The more we learn about oceans and the marine environment, the more we can do to understand these link and protect the incredible diversity of species and habitats.
Education Resources
Oceans contain the greatest diversity of life on Earth. Habitats range from the freezing polar regions to the warm waters of the coral reefs, deep sea hydrothermal vents to shallow seagrass beds and beautiful sponge gardens to giant kelp forests, marine organisms are found everywhere.
Australia is home to the over 10,000 beaches and no part of Australia is more than 1,000km from the ocean. Our coasts are impacted by our actions on land. Rubbish and microplastics can be found washed up on almost every Australian beach.
Pollution and rubbish get washed into our rivers and waterways with stormwater runoff and end up on our coasts and oceans. Over 75% of this rubbish is plastic. Plastics in the environment can take hundreds of years to break down, thereby impacting marine species for generations.
I created the Caring for our Oceans activities for the Landcare Learning Centre. These are great activities to do with your students.
Remember everything we do on land has impacts on the marine environment. Follow the journey of water down the river through the catchment to the sea with the Story of a River.
If you are on the east coast of Australia at the moment you have probably noticed that there has been a lot of rain. The high volume of rain is inundated catchments across the New South Wales resulting in repeated major flooding.
Multiple heavy rain events lead to super saturated soils and result in swollen river systems. There isn’t enough time for the water to flow away before more rain arrives. The ground is already saturated and can’t absorb more water resulting in increased runoff.
In many cities and towns this is made worse by hard surfaces; like roads, gutters, pathways and concrete drains. These hard surfaces make efficient channels directing the water into already flooded systems.
Typical Catchment
Catchments have water flowing into creeks and rivers and eventually to the sea. Floods in coastal systems are also impacted by the tides. A flood peak coinciding with the high tide will have greater impacts on low lying areas.
Drainage basins illustration: spring, tributary, main river channel and ocean. Copyright : normaals
Why floods are so deep and dangerous in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley. Learn how the ‘bathtub effect’ makes this valley have one of the greatest flood risks in Australia.
The extent and depth of flooding is influenced by the unique ‘Bathtub Effect’ of the floodplain causing floodwater to back-up. The ‘Bathtub Effect’ enables dangerous, damaging flooding of significant depth to occur.
Most river valleys tend to widen as they approach the sea. The opposite is the case in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley. The river narrow downstream at sandstone gorges between Sackville and Brooklyn create natural choke points. Floodwaters back up and rise rapidly, causing deep and widespread flooding across the floodplain. Much like a bathtub with five taps turned on, but only one plug hole to let the water out.
