Living Rivers needed for healthy Territory Wetlands

The Environment Centre NT has marked World Wetlands Day 2009 by calling on the NorthernTerritory Government to honour its 2005 election commitment to pass strong laws to protect the Territory’s iconic Living Rivers and the amazing wetlands they support.

“The Territory is renowned for its lily-covered wetlands and barra-filled rivers, but many of our rivers face uncertain futures” said Dr Stuart Blanch, Coordinator, Environment Centre NT.

World Wetlands Day is on Monday 2 February. The theme for World Wetlands Day 2009 is ‘Upstream-Downstream: wetlands connect us all’.

“Building new big dams, diverting the course of rivers for mines, major land clearing and largescale irrigation development should be banned to protect Living Rivers and their wetlands”, said Dr Blanch.

“The future of icon rivers such as the Daly, McArthur, Adelaide and Roper should be secured in the interests of conserving nature, Indigenous traditional owners, tourism, and fishing.

“Rivers and wetlands will be better able to ride out this century of climate change if they are healthy.

Scientists estimate half of the wetlands in southern Australia have been destroyed or degraded.

“We are fortunate in the Territory to still have most of our wetlands in good shape. Let’s keep it that way. No one wants to see our rivers and wetlands go the way of the Murray-Darling Basin.

For further information contact: Stuart Blanch, Coordinator, 0448 887 303