1. Wetlands
By: Cooper Garoni

2. What is a wetland? A special environment. Lots of different types:
Dams.
Lakes.
Rivers.
Ponds.
Swamps.
Springs.
Creeks.

3. Different types of wetlands

4. Why are wetlands important?
Wetlands are important because they:
Increase water quality.
Store flood water.
Provide water for wildlife in the dry season.
Filter our rivers.
Stop erosion.
Are a place for tourists to go.
Support businesses like fishing, tourism and farming.
Provide food for animals.
Have lots of flora and fauna.
Are a good breeding place.

5. What would you find in a wetland?
You would find:
People who are camping, bird watching, canoeing, boating, fishing, hunting and bush walking.
Breeding places for water birds, fish, frogs, reptiles and insects.
Birds from the Northern Hemisphere that migrate to Victorian wetlands.
Aboriginal people (Kimberly Region).
Plants such as lily flowers, water plants and lily pads.
Animals such as ducks, crayfish, snails, turtles and alligators.

6. Where are wetlands located?
There are big ones and small wetlands all over the place.
Some well known ones are:
Wonga Wetlands (Albury).
Kimberly Region (North – Western Australia) .
Murray – Darling Basin.
Gulf of Carpentaria.
Ross River.
Didgeridoo Lagoon.
Gippsland Lakes.
Barmah Forest.
Kerang Wetlands.

7. How can we protect our wetlands?
Victoria has lost more than 37% of its wetlands.
The Government now provides money for protecting our wetlands.
You can do the following things:
Don’t litter in wetlands because plastic bags can kill animals.
Encourage people to make a wetland on their property.
Don’t pull trees out of our wetlands.
Farmers need to look after wetlands on their properties.
Keep researching wetlands.

8. Bibliography Computer www.wetlandcare.com.au www.parkweb.vic.gov.au