A Framework for the Identification of Wetland Condition Indicators

Product Information

The SAWCI project has developed a process for the identification of appropriate wetland condition indicators and a pilot framework for reporting on wetland condition. This has been done in conjunction with State Departments, interstate jurisdictions, Natural Resources Management (NRM) Boards and research organisations.

The project undertook the following steps:
1. Draft mapping of the extent and distribution of wetlands by the South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH);
2. Interim aquatic bioregions (based on initial investigations into genetic pools based on fish and stygofauna species);
3. An interim wetland typology based on functional processes that has identified 17 major wetland types in South Australia;
4. Ten of the 17 wetland types conceptual diagrams created;
5. Assessment of the applicability of remote sensing to wetland condition assessment;
6. Application of wetland condition indicators within a reporting framework.

In order to identify wetland condition indicators for the state, there is a need to break the large number of wetlands down into manageable components. This was achieved by breaking down the state into preliminary bio-geographic regions based on assessing the genetic divergence of aquatic dependent species. The outcome of a workshop was that South Australia has six preliminary aquatic bioregions that are most closely aligned with the genetic distribution of fish species.