Wetlands at risk: group

There are fears Ahuriri estuary may be victim of rising seal levels if nothing is done to address emission levels. Photo / File

Ahuriri estuary may not see out the next 50 years, becoming another local victim to the rising sea levels if more is not done to address emission levels, an environmental advocate group says.

Forest & Bird (F&B) raised this issue following last week's release of the Environment Commissioner Dr Jan Wright's report on rising sea levels.

The report revealed that the rising sea levels threaten almost 8000 homes, 76 businesses and about 100km of road in Napier.

In the wake of this, F&B's lower North Island conservation manager Amelia Geary said some of the most vulnerable environment to sea level rising is the 2 per cent that remains of Hawke's Bay's original wetlands.

"Rising sea levels over the next 50 years could see Ahuriri estuary wetlands permanently inundated with seawater," said Ms Geary. "Depriving many threatened shorebirds and waders, like the NZ dotterel and bar-tailed godwit, of essential feeding habitat."

F&B is warning that without meaningful action from Climate Change Minister Tim Groser the region will lose some of its most iconic native animals and habitats.

That is why the group is trying to reduce emissions by 40 per cent from 1990 levels within the next 15 years, and carbon neutrality by 2040.

"We must have a bold climate target that will limit sea level rises and climate disruption to manageable levels, or we will lose many of region's iconic species that are already teetering on the edge," Ms Geary said.

"Already in the Hawke's Bay, as around the country, significant parts of our natural ecosystems are failing. They may survive 1-2 degrees warming, but they won't survive a 3-4 degree increase."

Napier mayor Bill Dalton said the estuary was hugely important to the Bay and much work was being done to preserve it through a very active regional joint committee.

"We are doing everything we can to both enhance the use of the estuary and to preserve all those things that are important about the estuary," he said.

"Such as it being used recreationally and the fact that it is a major breeding ground for whitebait and some shellfish."

He said local government would deal with the sea level rising to the best of its ability, but that the committee is doing all it can with the information it has to hand to preserve the wetland.

While locally much is being done to address the issues faced by the Ahuriri estuary, F&B is demanding more nationally and is mobilising around the country for the People's Climate March to be held this weekend.

"We need a bold climate target and we'll be calling for it loud and clear this Saturday," Ms Geary said.