Ramsar ConventionLI – To know and understand the purpose of the Ramsar Convention

Warm UpChange the following statements so they are appropriate for a report:

We conducted a beach survey last week.

My group was the first to discover the berm. We fell over it.

I believe that rock groynes are the most effective strategy.

Overall, we liked Point Danger the best because it was high up.

Kids can fall off the rock wall so it’s not so good.

1

2

3

4

5

No personal pronouns!

Geographical terminology!

No contractions!

Think about this when editing your own assessment

work.

The Ramsar ConventionThe Ramsar Convention is an international agreement to protect wetlands around the world. It was signed in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, and provides protection to 192 million hectares of wetland habitat to this day. Originally, the convention was signed to protect waterbird habitats, but has

been broadened to include the protection and wise use of all wetland biodiversity.

Wetlands

They purify water and control against erosion

Wetlands are areas of soil covered by water, either permanently or seasonally. These areas become distinct ecosystems, creating conditions that favour the growth of specific flora and fauna species. Wetlands are important because:

They are sources of biodiversity

They play a vital role in climate change adaption

They are used as habitats during migration & reproduction

Types of WetlandsSwamp Lake Wet Grassland

Mangrove Rice Paddy Peatland

Bird MigrationOne of the major functions of wetlands is to provide vital habitats for many bird species. They are used for breeding, drinking, resting, raising young, and social interactions. The Ramsar Convention was founded on the international environmental need to protect wetland habitats for birds that migrate globally. Some waterbird species, for example, glossy ibis, freckled duck and blue-billed duck, are thought to breed almost entirely within wetlands in the Murray-Darling Basin.

Explain why it would be important for

international governments to agree to protect

wetlands?

Describe the interconnections

between birds and wetlands across

the world.

Locate the Murray-Darling Basin on Google Maps or Google Earth. List

its features.

Murray-Coorong RegionLI – To understand the importance of the Murray-Coorong region and its environmental issues

Warm UpUsing this link, find the blanks on the

adjacent map of the Murray-Coorong Region. The blanks are listed below.

Murray River

Milang

Lake Alexandrina

Narrung

Lake Albert

Southern Ocean

The Coorong

Hindmarsh Island

Wetland RegionThe Coorong and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert (located in South Australia) wetland is one of Australia's most important wetland areas. Australia designated the site, covering approximately 140,500 ha in South Australia, as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 1985. The Coorong is a long, shallow saline lagoon that stretches more than 100 km and that is separated from the Southern Ocean by a narrow sand dune peninsula. It marks the termination of Australia's longest river, the Murray. The Murray River provides the Coorong with freshwater, and flows sediment throughout the region to create new landforms.

Wetland ImportanceThe area has more than 23 wetland types and is home to both international migratory and nationally endangered bird species.

The area is home to the red-necked stint, which travels from breeding grounds in Siberia and Alaska.

The Ngarrindjeri people continue to have a close association with the area and some of the northern islands within the Coorong lagoon are reserved for their use.

The area is used for farming, and contributes significantly to the production of produce in Australia.

1

The Murray-Coorong Region is an area of great importance for a number of reasons, including the following:

2

3

4

Wetland IssuesDue to human impact, salinity levels in the Coorong region are increasing. This threatens the habitats of many living flora and fauna species, and decreases the usability of river water for human consumption and farming.

Salinity is the

amount of salt

in the water.

High salinity =

more dissolved

salts

Managing SalinityA number of strategies are currently employed to help overcome these problems:

Captive breeding programs for native fish, to be returned when salinity decreases

Pumping hyper-saline water out of the lagoon

Dredging to keep the Murray River mouth open for freshwater flow

Sealing barrages (barriers) to keep salt water out of the lower lakes

Recycling waste water to reduce reliance on Murray River

Flush the area with fresh water from pipes and dams