People using areas near the coasts of the Waikato region this summer are being asked to be careful not to damage the salt marsh.


A salt marsh near Tairua.

These marsh areas, often seen as ‘wastelands' are in fact an important part of coastal vegetation, says Whitianga-based harbour and catchment management coordinator Emily O'Donnell.
'These areas aren't really for recreation purposes, but they have a very important environmental role and influence recreation values like fish abundance,” says Emily.
'Salt marsh helps trap sediment and other material that can contaminate water bodies.
'It is also an important habitat for rare and threatened bird species such as the banded rail and Australasian bittern.”
Emily is appealing for people to tread carefully in salt marshes and to stay away with vehicles. Vehicles should not be accessing the coastal marine area unless authorised.
'These areas are easily damaged and take years and years to recover.

'We need to stop thinking of them as wastelands and think of them as important wild lands.”