Australian wetlands of national importance

The Governments of Australia have made a commitment to recognise Australia's most important wetlands. The States and Territories, and the Commonwealth Government, have jointly compiled a Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia. The directory identifies and recognises Australia's nationally important wetlands, and it provides information about the different wetland types and the flora and fauna that are dependent on these wetland ecosystems. In 2001 the third edition of the directory was released. This identified 851 nationally important wetland sites around Australia.

Download the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia (opens in  new window)

Wetlands are identified as "nationally important" according to six criteria. These criteria are:

• It is a good example of a wetland type occurring within a biogeographical region in Australia;
• It plays an important ecological or hydrological role in the major functioning of a major wetland system/complex;
• It provides important habitat for fauna at a vulnerable stage in their life cycles, or provides a refuge when adverse conditions prevail (e.g. drought);
• It supports at least 1 per cent of the national populations of any native plant of animal species;
• It supports nationally threatened plant or animal species, or ecological communities; and
• It is of outstanding historical or cultural significance

Of the 851 Nationally important wetlands in Australia, in June 2002, 56 wetlands were also recognised as being "internationally important" under the Ramsar Convention's List of Wetlands of International Importance.