List of Ramsar sites in Australia explained

This is a list of wetlands in Australia that are designated by the Ramsar Convention as sites of international importance. Under the convention, the wetlands are considered as being of significant value not only for the Australian community, but for humanity as a whole.

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands came into force for Australia on . As of 28 February 2018, Australia has 66 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance, with a total area of 8342175ha.^{[1] [2]}

Management of Ramsar wetlands in the Australian jurisdiction

The management of Ramsar sites listed within Australia is controlled at national level by the Australian government via the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and its accompanying regulations, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000.^{[3] [4]}

The act, as of 2015, lists the principles required for meeting treaty obligations in respect to "wetlands of international importance" including "environmental approvals" (i.e. sections 16-17B), the prerequisites for the making of both "declarations" and "bilateral agreements" (i.e. sections 34C and 37F, and 52 respectively), the approval process (i.e. section 138), "strategic assessments" (i.e. section 134J), and the management approach (i.e. sections 325 to 336 inclusive).^[3]

The applicable regulation (i.e. regulation 10.02) lists three requirements as of 2015. Firstly, a set of general principles for management is described including the need for "public consultation," the involvement of parties with an interest and/or who may be affected by the management of wetland, as well as allowing for "continuing community and technical input." Secondly, the requirements for the management plan to be prepared for each listed wetland are described. Thirdly, the requirements for the "environmental impact assessment and approval" are described for parties wishing to undertake activities that are likely to have "a significant impact on the ecological character of a Ramsar wetland."^{[4] [5]}

Australian Capital Territory

The following wetlands are located in the Australian Capital Territory:^[1]

Ramsar wetlands of the Australian Capital Territory! style="background-color:"

Name	Location	Coordinates	Area	Designated	Designation No.	Description	Image
		-35.5167°N 194°W	125abbr=onNaNabbr=on		RS793

New South Wales

The following wetlands are located in New South Wales:^[1]

Ramsar wetlands of New South Wales! style="background-color:"

Name	Location	Coordinates	Area	Designated	Designation No.	Description	Image
		-36.4°N 167°W	320ha		RS800
		-29.25°N 173°W	70176.2ha		RS2520
		-34.5°N 169°W	689ha		RS1224
		-34.5°N 169°W	823ha		RS993
		-32.8667°N 194°W	2971ha		RS287
		-30.0833°N 198°W	258ha		RS798
		-29.1°N 154°W	800ha		RS799
		-30.75°N 191°W	18726ha		RS337
		-32.5°N 169°W	44612ha		RS994
	North West Slopes	-29.7167°N 173°W	5530ha		RS995
	Riverina	-35.65°N 183°W	84028ha		RS1291
	Far West	-30.3333°N 194°W	138304ha		RS1716		150px
		-34°N 161°W	386ha		RS286

Northern Territory

The following wetlands are located in the Northern Territory:^[1]

Ramsar wetlands of the Northern Territory! style="background-color:"

Name	Location	Coordinates	Area	Designated	Designation No.	Description	Image
		-11.25°N 147°W	220700ha		RS1
		-12.6667°N 177°W	683000ha		RS204
		-12.5°N 162°W	692940ha		RS441

Queensland

The following wetlands are located in Queensland:^[1]

Ramsar wetlands of Queensland! style="background-color:"

Name	Location	Coordinates	Area	Designated	Designation No.	Description	Image
		-19.45°N 162°W	35500ha		RS632
		-28.75°N 163°W	151300ha		RS791
		-25.4667°N 206°W	93160ha		RS992
		-27.3333°N 163°W	113314ha		RS631
		-22.6667°N 167°W	239100ha		RS792

South Australia

The following wetlands are located in South Australia:^[1]

Ramsar wetlands of South Australia! style="background-color:"

Name	Location	Coordinates	Area	Designated	Designation No.	Description	Image
		-34.1833°N 160°W	1375ha		RS1221
		-37.1333°N 181°W	3200ha		RS322
		-27.45°N 140°W	1980000ha		RS376
		-35.9333°N 157°W	140500ha		RS321
	Limestone Coast	-38.0508°N 140.9364°W	862ha^[6]		RS2136
Riverland Ramsar site^[7] ^[8]	Riverland	-34.0333°N 191°W	30600ha		RS377

Tasmania

The following wetlands are located in Tasmania:^[1]

Ramsar wetlands of Tasmania! style="background-color:"

Name	Location	Coordinates	Area	Designated	Designation No.	Description	Image
		-41.9333°N 160°W	880ha		RS255
		-40.3667°N 171°W	4370ha		RS255
		-42.15°N 157°W	520ha		RS259
		-41.35°N 166°W	18ha		RS258
		-39.75°N 149°W	7020ha		RS253
		-40.8667°N 184°W	57ha		RS260
	Flinders Island, Furneaux Group	-40.1667°N 165°W	2320ha		RS252
	North East	-40.9°N 203°W	4160ha		RS257
	Freycinet Peninsula	-42.0833°N 158°W	4580ha		RS251
	Southern Tasmania	-42.8°N 177°W	3175ha		RS254

Victoria

The following wetlands are located in Victoria:^[1]

Ramsar wetlands of Victoria! style="background-color:"

Name	Location	Coordinates	Area	Designated	Designation No.	Description	Image
		-35.9167°N 153°W	28515ha		RS262
		-38.75°N 178°W	67186ha		RS261
		-38.0833°N 148°W	22289ha		RS2344	^[9]
		-38.0667°N 152°W	261ha		RS1096
		-38°N 183°W	60015ha		RS269
		-35.8167°N 163°W	19931ha		RS263
		-34.6833°N 168°W	955ha		RS264
	Murray Mallee	-35.6667°N 199°W	9419ha		RS265
		-35.7667°N 199°W	5731ha		RS270
		-38.0667°N 180°W	22897ha		RS266
		-38.1667°N 174°W	32898ha		RS268
	Western Port	-38.3667°N 162°W	59297ha		RS267

Western Australia

The following wetlands are located in Western Australia:^[1]

Ramsar wetlands of Western Australia! style="background-color:"

Name	Location	Coordinates	Area	Designated	Designation No.	Description	Image
		-32.3833°N 159°W	677ha		RS1048
		-19.5167°N 160°W	125000ha		RS480
	Swan Coastal Plain	-32.15°N 167°W	754ha		RS481
		-33.7833°N 150°W	4017ha		RS1049
	Goldfields-Esperance	-33.8°N 177°W	2300ha		RS485
	Kimberley	-16.3167°N 172°W	150000ha		RS478
		-34.4833°N 159°W	10631ha		RS1050
	Kimberley	-15.25°N 150°W	141453ha		RS477
	Swan Coastal Plain	-32.8167°N 157°W	26530ha		RS482
	Kimberley	-18.1167°N 138°W	55000ha		RS479
		-32.9167°N 153°W	493ha		RS483
	South West	-33.6167°N 140°W	1115ha		RS484

External territories

The following wetlands are located in the External territories:^[1]

Ramsar wetlands of the External territories! style="background-color:"

Name	Location	Coordinates	Area	Designated	Designation No.	Description	Image
Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve		-12.25°N 125°W	58300ha		RS1220
Coral Sea Reserves (Coringa-Herald and Lihou Reef and Cays)		-17.0667°N 189°W	1729200ha		RS1222
		-10.4667°N 138°W	57ha		RS1225
	Coral Sea Islands Territory	-29.6833°N 165°W	188000ha		RS1223
	Christmas Island	-10.4667°N 146°W	1ha		RS512
		-11.8333°N 145°W	122ha		RS797

See also

• List of Ramsar sites worldwide
• A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia

External links

• Official Australian Government webpage
• List of Ramsar Sites
• Australia's National Report to the 11th Conference of the Parties, 2011

Notes and References

1. Web site: The List of Wetlands of International Importance. PDF. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. 28 June 2014. 19 June 2014 .
2. Web site: The Annotated Ramsar List: Australia . 28 June 2014 . The Annotated Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance . The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands . 10 April 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110919211637/http://www.ramsar.org/cda/en/ramsar-pubs-annolist-annotated-ramsar-16713/main/ramsar/1-30-168%5E16713_4000_0__ . 19 September 2011 .
3. Web site: Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Australasian Legal Information Institute. 12 October 2015.
4. Web site: Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000 - Reg 10.02. Australasian Legal Information Institute. 11 October 2015.
5. Web site: Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000 - Schedule 6. Australasian Legal Information Institute. 11 October 2015.
6. Web site: Peddie. Clare. Piccaninnie Ponds now a wetland world wonder. The Advertiser. 24 January 2013.
7. Web site: Riverland Ramsar site . . 2020 . 20 June 2021.
8. Web site: New partnership to restore Riverland Ramsar site (Commonwealth Environmental Water Office media release) . Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Australia . 2 December 2020 . 20 June 2021.
9. Web site: Glenelg Estuary and Discovery Bay Ramsar Site . Ramsar Convention Secretriat . 22 September 2018 . 28 February 2018.