Shorebird and Wetland Habitat
In April 2024, the Australian Government committed $17 million for the Shorebird and Wetland Habitat (SaWH) program to improve the quality and availability of shorebird habitat and wetland ecosystems across South Australia's Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth (CLLMM) and South East regions.
The program consists of 25 distinct projects across 35 wetland sites, working with 12 partner organisations. Collectively, these projects will enhance habitat across both regions, creating a mosaic of critical foraging and breeding areas for local threatened species and migratory birds. This includes at sites within the internationally important Coorong and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert Ramsar wetland and along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.
The program works with local groups, including landscape boards, community groups and First Nations, to plan and deliver habitat restoration activities. The program focuses on smaller wetlands that cumulatively have the greatest impact at a regional scale, with activities including:
- removing barriers to flow and improving connectivity
- controlling weeds and revegetating with native species
- protecting habitats and reducing threats
- building new infrastructure to improve water management and keep wetlands healthy.
Why the program is important
Decreases in the diversity and abundance of waterbirds (including threatened and migratory species) in the CLLMM and South East have been linked to declines in the quality and quantity of suitable habitat.
The program is important as it will deliver a range of localised on-ground works and activities to increase the availability of quality shorebird habitat, maintain food webs, provide critical foraging and breeding habitat for waterbirds and other threatened species, and improve wetland ecosystems across both regions. The expected outcomes include:
- increasing the area and duration of quality shorebird habitat and wetland ecosystems at a regional scale
- enhancing the diversity of shorebird habitat and wetland ecosystems for various climatic and environmental conditions
- improving landscape resilience by maintaining food webs and enhancing habitats that support breeding conditions for foraging waterbirds
- reducing threats to the recruitment and survival of wetland species, including biosecurity risks
- enhancing wetland resilience at a landscape scale
- strengthening the ability of First Nations to connect to Country, fulfill cultural obligations in Caring for Country, and achieve cultural outcomes
- fostering landholder connections to environmental outcomes and the regional landscape
- reinforcing Australia’s commitment to international obligations, including the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance and the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership, by increasing available habitat for migratory birds and other threatened species.
First Nations partnerships
The program will also help First Nations strengthen their connection to Country and meet their rights, interests and cultural obligations in Caring for Country. Engagement and collaboration with First Nations are critical elements of the program
The Ngarrindjeri and First Nations of the South East (FNSE) are the Traditional Owners of the Coorong, Lower Lakes and South East regions respectively. The program established strong working relationships with First Nations representative bodies, including Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation (representing Ngarrindjeri Nations) and Burrandies Aboriginal Corporation (representing First Nations of the South East).
The program will continue to strengthen and grow these partnerships through ongoing collaboration and involvement. This will help preserve and promote First Nations culture and build capacity to apply their cultural knowledge, values and interests in the development and implementation of the program.
The partnership with each First Nations group will be unique, recognising differences in the geographic area of their Country, Native Title, governance structures and their self-identified interests.
Individual projects will have associated Cultural Heritage and First Nations engagement requirements, tailored and informed through direct collaboration with the relevant First Nations representative bodies.
Project sites
Thirty-five wetland sites across the Coorong, Lower Lakes, Murray Mouth and South East regions of South Australia were selected to implement habitat restoration actions.
More information
Get involved
We are committed to working with First Nations people, local communities and the broader South Australian community throughout the life of the program.
Subscribeto our email list for program updates and regional engagement opportunities.
Contact us
- Email us at DEW.ShorebirdsAndWetlands@sa.gov.au
- Call the Department for Environment and Water (DEW) on (08) 8204 1910
Social media
The Shorebird and Wetland Habitat program is funded by the Australian Government and delivered by the Government of South Australia to enhance the quality and availability of shorebird habitat and wetland ecosystems across the Coorong, Lower Lakes, Murray Mouth and South East regions of South Australia
Program news
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 items
The $17 million Shorebird and Wetland Habitat (SaWH) program came into land in late October, as the project team joined with delivery partners to launch working groups in Milang and Mt Gambier.
The Australian Government has committed $17 million for a new project to improve shorebird and wetland habitat across South Australia's Coorong, Lower Lakes, Murray Mouth and South East landscape.
