Wetlands of national significance

Nationally significant wetlands are listed in the 'Directory of important wetlands in Australia'. A wetland may be considered nationally important if it meets at least one of the following criteria:

it is a good example of a wetland type occurring within a biogeographic region in Australia
it is a wetland that plays an important ecological or hydrological role in the natural functioning of a major wetland system/complex
the wetland provides habitat for animals at a vulnerable stage in their life cycle, or it provides a refuge when adverse conditions such as drought prevail
the wetland supports 1 percent or more of the national population of any native plant or animal
the wetland supports native plants or animals or communities which are considered endangered or vulnerable at the national level
the wetland is of outstanding historical or cultural significance.

There are over 850 nationally significant wetlands in Australia. South Australia has nominated 84 of these. Wetland inventory is ongoing and many wetlands remain to be assessed or recognised as internationally or nationally important.

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