Wetlands photo competition launched

FILE

Rotorua young people aged from 15 to 24 are in with a chance to win international travel by entering the World Wetlands Day youth photo competition.

The Department of Conservation is encouraging young people to take a picture of their favourite wetland, and upload it to the World Wetlands Day website before March 2.

The winner will receive a free flight to a famous wetland of their choice anywhere in the world, courtesy of Star Alliance Biosphere Connections.

World Wetlands Day was acknowledged on February 2 and marks the adoption of the International Convention on Wetlands on February 2, 1971 in Ramsar, Iran.

The theme for World Wetlands Day 2015 is Wetlands for our future; Te tirohanga ? mua m? ng? m?ria.

"Wetlands play an essential role in our environment including filtering and cleansing water, providing critical habitat for many plants and animals and acting as a natural shield to protect our landscape through absorbing water runoff and providing a controlled release of water to lakes, rivers and our coast.

"They are biodiversity hotspots and provide many recreational opportunities," said DOC conservation services ranger Daniel Jack.

"Wetlands can be broadly defined as areas where the presence of water is the primary factor controlling the environment and associated plant and animal life.

There are a number of accessible places frequented by people that are classified as wetlands including, lakes, large reservoirs and estuaries."

Some of the most significant and stunning wetlands in the region are found at Lake Ngahewa, Lake Okareka, and Waikite Wetland.