About this publication
Distribution of wetlands in NSW
July 2003
This report gives the most complete picture of wetlands in New South Wales to date. It maps the distribution and extent of 20,000 wetlands, which can cover 4.5 million hectares - or six per cent of the state - at their maximum extent.
From almost 50 satellite images taken over a 10-year period, NPWS researchers found that:
- 96 per cent of the state's wetlands are inland, west of the Great Dividing Range, predominantly as floodplains
- 93 per cent of wetlands are in arid and semi-arid areas with mean annual rainfall less than 500mm
- 99 per cent of wetlands are below an altitude of 250m
- only three per cent of the state's wetlands are in national parks and reserves, with disproportionate reservation on the coast compared to the inland.
As river systems have been developed for irrigation and other human activities, many of our wetlands have been lost. Development is a primary factor in the decline of wetlands. Many of the largest wetlands have been developed for agriculture - for example the Gwydir wetlands. The healthiest wetlands in NSW remain in catchments such as the Bulloo-Bancannia, Paroo and Warrego where there has been little development.
This report identifies different types of wetlands and shows which wetlands are dependent on river flows. As a result, it will allow land and water managers to better conserve and manage wetlands and the river systems that supply them. It's a vital step in planning conservation strategies for our wetlands, while addressing the needs of people who use them for irrigation and recreation.
Documents to download
The distribution of wetlands in New South Wales report is available in two versions.
If you have a broadband internet connection, you may wish to download the complete 2.2MB file:
- The distribution of wetlands in New South Wales (PDF - 2.2MB)
If you have a dial-up internet connection, you can download sections of the report below:
- The distribution of wetlands in New South Wales without figures (PDF - 578KB)
- Figure 1 - Catchment locations across NSW and the Murray-Darling Basin (PDF - 175KB)
- Figure 2 - Results of the comparison of Landsat MSS and TM Imagery for Richmond catchment (PDF - 319KB)
- Figure 3 - Distribution of wetlands across NSW (PDF - 949KB)
- Figure 4 - Percentages of wetlands across NSW, coast and inland in relation to elevation and rainfall (PDF - 52KB)
- Figure 5 - Wetland distribution and areas under conservation measures across NSW (PDF - 175KB)