The Macquarie Marshes support many important species that are listed in international agreements and include vulnerable and endangered species. Appendix B provides a summary of the conservationally significant species recorded at the site. The ecological value of Macquarie Marshes is reflected in its rating against the criteria used by the MDBA to identify key environmental assets within the Basin. The MDBA established five criteria based on international agreements and broad alignment with the National Framework and Guidance for Describing the Ecological Character of Australian Ramsar Wetlands (Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts 2008) and the draft criteria for identifying High Conservation Value Aquatic Ecosystems (SKM 2007). Based on the ecological values identified at the Macquarie Marshes, the site meets all of the five criteria for determining a key environmental asset (Table 1). Table 1 Assessment of the Macquarie Marshes against MDBA key environmental asset criteria Criterion Ecological values that support the criterion 1. The water-dependent The Macquarie Marshes are formally recognised in, or are capable of supporting species ecosystem is formally listed in the Japan–Australia, China–Australia or Republic of Korea – Australia migratory recognised in bird agreements. The Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve, Mole Marsh and the Wilgara international agreements Wetlands met the five criteria for Ramsar listing. or, with environmental Species listed in international agreements that have been recorded at Macquarie Marshes watering, is capable of are in Appendix B. supporting species listed in those agreements 2. The water-dependent The Macquarie Marshes are one of the largest inland semi-permanent wetlands in ecosystem is natural or Australia. The site is rare in terms of both its size and diversity of wetland types near-natural, rare or (Paijmans 1981; NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service1993; NSW Department of unique Environment, Climate The Change water-dependent and Water 2010c). ecosystem is natural or near-natural, rare or unique
The Macquarie Marshes support many important species that are listed in international agreements and include vulnerable and endangered species. Appendix B provides a summary of the conservationally significant species recorded at the site. The ecological value of Macquarie Marshes is reflected in its rating against the criteria used by the MDBA to identify key environmental assets within the Basin. The MDBA established five criteria based on international agreements and broad alignment with the National Framework and Guidance for Describing the Ecological Character of Australian Ramsar Wetlands (Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts 2008) and the draft criteria for identifying High Conservation Value Aquatic Ecosystems (SKM 2007). Based on the ecological values identified at the Macquarie Marshes, the site meets all of the five criteria for determining a key environmental asset (Table 1). Table 1 Assessment of the Macquarie Marshes against MDBA key environmental asset criteria Criterion Ecological values that support the criterion 1. The water-dependent ecosystem is formally recognised in international agreements or, with environmental watering, is capable of supporting species listed in those agreements The Macquarie Marshes are formally recognised in, or are capable of supporting species listed in the Japan–Australia, China–Australia or Republic of Korea – Australia migratory bird agreements. The Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve, Mole Marsh and the Wilgara Wetlands met the five criteria for Ramsar listing. Species listed in international agreements that have been recorded at Macquarie Marshes are in Appendix B. 2. The water-dependent ecosystem is natural or near-natural, rare or unique The water-dependent ecosystem is natural or near-natural, rare or unique The Macquarie Marshes are one of the largest inland semi-permanent wetlands in Australia. The site is rare in terms of both its size and diversity of wetland types (Paijmans 1981; NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service1993; NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water 2010c).
EWR-Macquarie-Marshes.docx