The next presentation will be held on 22nd June 2010, 5:30 for 6pm and is titled Wetland Restoration. The venue is the EA Auditorium, Thomas Street, Chatswood and drinks and nibbles will be available in advance.
The presentation will discuss recent successes in coastal wetland restoration and the relevance of this outcome to development offsets via the NSW bio banking initiative http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/biobanking/. Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world, yet their extent and health continues to diminish. Australia‟s remaining coastal wetlands are internationally recognized for their unique habitat supporting a range of important local and migratory species. The benefits wetlands contribute are significant. The ecosystem services wetlands provide underpin much of our economic activity and wetlands are recognised as contributing to healthier waterways, fish nursery and habitat areas, drought refuges for stock and wildlife, nutrient capture and recycling, and filtering and capture of sediment. This recognition of the importance of wetlands has led to a concerted effort to restore historical wetland areas to their previous function. This has its challenges as many of these areas have degraded over the years with acid sulphate soils being a specific consideration. Successful rehabilitation has the potential to offset fringe development of other wetland and high conservation areas via the bio banking concept.
A PDF flyer is available for distribution with the full details.
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