Tidal wetlands of the kanamaluka / Tamar estuary include:

• freshwater wetlands in the upper estuary, dominated by the common reed (Phragmites australis);

• patchy stands of threatened swamp paperbark (Melaleuca ericifolia) throughout the estuary; and

• more biodiverse saltmarsh wetlands containing rushes, sedges, and succulents in the middle to lower estuary.

Collectively these habitats, along with mudflats, form much of the natural shoreline of the estuary.

Phragmites australis

Melaleuca ericifolia

Emergent tidal wetlands play an important part in the health and function of the estuary, with benefits including:

• providing critical habitat to many species including reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals;

• acting as natural filters and pollutant traps, thereby improving water quality;

• storing significant amounts of ‘blue carbon’ with vegetation sequestering carbon more efficiently than terrestrial forests; and

• mitigating floods, storm surge events, and erosion by acting as natural buffer zones.

The wetland habitats of the kanamaluka / Tamar estuary are also culturally and aesthetically significant to the community. Despite this, they have experienced significant historical loss as well as continued pressure from development and encroachment by invasive species.

Emergent tidal wetland habitats of the kanamaluka / Tamar estuary have great ecological, economic and social value. However, the health of emergent tidal wetlands in the kanamaluka / Tamar estuary is poorly understood, with the partial exception of saltmarshes. Assessing the condition of wetlands (incorporating saltmarshes, freshwater wetlands and threatened stands of Melaleuca ericifolia swamp forest) is important to understand estuary health and function and for informing management decisions.

Monitoring and assessing the extent and condition of emergent tidal wetlands along the kanamaluka / Tamar estuary was identified as an important inclusion in the TEER Program’s Biological Monitoring Program.

This inclusion will help us to:

• develop a set of detailed maps for saltmarshes, freshwater wetlands, stands of M. ericifolia swamp forest, and ricegrass (Spartina anglica) within the kanamaluka / Tamar estuary;

• understand the degree of change from pre-European baseline to current extent (i.e., what have we lost historically) as well as how this changes moving forward;

• develop a baseline understanding of the current state of each wetland habitat type, forming a useful reference point for monitoring change into the future.

Get involved

You can get involved in collecting valuable visual information for each tidal wetland type using the four Fluker Posts installed along the kanamaluka / Tamar estuary.

Tailrace