Manawatu Ramsar Application

Forest and Bird, Issue 314, 1 November 2004, Page 42

Manawatu Ramsar Application

n application to have the Estuary lassified as a wetland of international importance, under the Ramsar Covention, has been lodged with the Department of Conservation by Horowhenua Forest and Bird. The Forest and Bird branch, headed by Joan Leckie, has spent two years preparing the application to have the estuary at Foxton Beach recognised. (See Forest & Bird, August 2003). A small group of Manawatu Trust members met at the Manawatu Estuary to view the handing over of the application to Vivienne Nicholls from DoC and it is now in the hands of the

Minister of Conservation for consideration. The Estuary is home to some 93 bird species, claimed to be the most diverse range in any one place in New Zealand, and is the largest in the lower North Island. It is a very important feeding ground for migrating birds and many of these birds winter over on the mudflats and in the wetland. A number of threatened fish and plants also live there.

Footnote: access to the estuary area is gained through Holben Parade Reserve at Foxton Beach. It is a great place to visit on a warm winter day to check out birds, but take binoculars and a field guidebook.