Macquarie Marshes Ramsar Site Article 3.2 Response Strategy
The Macquarie Marshes are one of the largest freshwater wetlands in NSW, renowned for their large colonial waterbird breeding events. The Macquarie Marshes Response Strategy (130104mmrspstrty.pdf, 2MB) is a 10-year plan to help restore the health of the Macquarie Marshes Ramsar wetlands.
In 2009, after the prolonged drought, a notification of likely change in ecological character of the Macquarie Marshes was submitted to the Ramsar Secretary General, under Article 3.2 of the Ramsar Convention. The ‘likely change’ can best be described as a change from a semi-permanent wetland to an ephemeral wetland system in parts of the Ramsar site. Water availability and management are the key drivers of the change.
The Office of Environment and Heritage, with other agencies and landholders of the privately owned sections of the Ramsar site, has developed a 10-year strategy in response to this likely change, in order to address the decline in the wetlands and help restore the system to good health so it may better withstand dry spells in the future.
The response strategy outlines the management goals and restoration objectives and the projects that will help reach those objectives. These projects include improvements to water management infrastructure and land management practices, and detailed monitoring of water flows and responses from vegetation.
To read the Response Strategy in PDF format, go to the right-hand side of the page and click on the 'Download now' button.
Page last updated: 22 March 2013