Minister marks World Wetlands Day
Hon Dr Nick Smith
Minister of Conservation
2 February 2014
Media Statement
Minister marks World Wetlands Day
Conservation Minister Dr
Nick Smith today marked this year’s World Wetlands Day
with the launch of a new stamp in the Game Bird Habitat
Collection Series.
“The Game Bird Habitat Stamp
programme is aimed at raising funds to protect and enhance
the habitat of our game birds. It’s a simple and
inexpensive way to enable New Zealanders to give direct
support to a great cause,” Dr Smith says.
The
2014 stamp features the pukeko, painted by landscape and
wildlife artist Jeanette Blackburn, and the background
habitat on the stamp is the Para Wetland in Marlborough. As
well as the stamp, this year’s collection includes other
related items such as a miniature sheet, first day cover and
a limited edition signed Artist Print.
The items
are sold through New Zealand Post to collectors and also
used by Fish & Game to endorse hunting licences, with the
funds raised going towards habitat conservation projects.
“This is the 21st collection in the series, with
the programme having raised $1.5 million towards habitat
protection and enhancement to date. Through the Game Bird
Habitat Trust, these funds have supported many projects on
both public and private land,” Dr Smith
says.
World Wetlands Day is celebrated
internationally on 2 February each year to mark the adoption
of the Convention on Wetlands, which recognises the value of
wetland sites around the world.
“In the past,
wetlands were drained and reclaimed to create more space for
farming. But today, the true worth of wetlands for
agriculture and its wider benefits for both the environment
and wildlife are being acknowledged.
“Wetlands
play an essential role in providing valuable ecosystem
services such as water purification of farm runoff,
recycling nutrients, protecting land from flood damage, and
recharging groundwater aquifers – as well as offering
recreation opportunities and supporting a rich diversity of
wildlife.
“Wetlands support the greatest
concentrations of bird life of any habitat in New Zealand
and support far more species than a comparable forest
area.
“We’ve long recognised that the key to
sustainable wildlife management and biodiversity is good
habitat – look after the habitat and the birds and fish
will have a better chance of thriving,” Dr Smith
says.
More information on the Game Bird Habitat
Collection Series can be found at: http://stamps.nzpost.co.nz/shop/other-products/game-bird-habitat-collection.
ENDS