Our wetlands our disappearing:
Since the mid 1800's -1900's New Zealand has lost over 90% of their original wetland areas due to them being drained for various reasons like urban development and road building. Quite a few small ponds across the flatter more farm-able land were drained and turned into either a livestock water holes or grazing paddocks.
Protecting native species:
Aotearoa has some of the most unique freshwater life in the world — like longfin eels (tuna) and Sphaerium novaezelandiae (freshwater clam) — and they need clean, healthy environments to survive.
Fighting invasive species:
Knowing what's in your water (like through e DNA testing) allows for the early detection of pests — like the invasive Gold Clams — before they take over and inflict harm on native ecosystems.
Monitoring ecosystem health:
Monthly eel surveys with Fyke nets show how tuna movement and wetland life are affected by season, temperature, or any severe whether events.
Wetlands are very important to the environment:
They clean water, stop floods, they're huge carbon sinks, and are home to dozens of native wildlife species.
Real science, real impact:
This is not a school assignment only — this is citizen science. I am collecting real data that can help scientists, local government, or farmers understand more about wetlands.
Connecting people with nature:
Raising other people's awareness about the importance of ponds, eels, and even tiny clams makes more people care about, defend, and restore them.
Cultural importance:
Tuna (longfin eels) are a taonga species of very significant cultural importance to Maori. Understanding when and how they migrate helps protect this special part of our heritage.
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