Kakadu celebrates World Wetlands Day

Kakadu National Park ranger Fred Hunter and friend welcome visitors to the World Wetlands Day event at Bowali Visitor Centre in February last year.

This year Kakadu is celebrating World Wetlands Day on Saturday, February 4 with an informative day of activities at the Bowali Visitor Centre.
World Wetlands Day is celebrated every year to raise global awareness about the value of wetlands for humanity and the planet.
Australia has 65 listed wetlands with Kakadu National Park having almost 7000km2 of Ramsar listed wetlands, that’s almost a third of Kakadu.
Officers from the National Environmental Science Program, ERA, Supervising Scientist along with Kakadu Park Rangers will deliver wetland talks and have an Airboat on display.
There are also Yellow Water Boat Cruise tickets to be won and a free barbecue.
The wetland comprises extensive seasonal floodplains, estuaries, tidal flats and offshore islands.
By far the largest component of these wetlands is the floodplain complex associated with the three large perennial (Alligator) rivers and the seasonal creeks.
The floodplains are also outstanding example of their types in the monsoon tropics.
Together with the West Alligator and Wildman Rivers in the adjoining wetland of Kakadu, they are the only such river systems under statutory conservation management in Australia.
The East Alligator River supports belts of mangrove forest, including 75% of mangrove species.
Several fish species with narrowly restricted ranges along with a range of fauna with particular conservation importance have been recorded.
Breeding populations of saltwater and freshwater crocodiles also occur in large numbers.
Kakadu is especially renowned for its bird life and between August and October up to one million waterbirds of more than 60 species gather on the floodplains, notably those of Nourlangie Creek including the Mamukala Wetlands.
Wetlands for Disaster Risk Reduction is the theme for World Wetlands Day in 2017. Wetlands play an important role in reducing the impact of extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and cyclones. Everyone is encouraged to join in the World Wetlands Day celebrations.