Wetlands are the natural boundary between land and water and are important ecosystems in the Bay of Plenty. They are permanently or intermittently wet areas, shallow water and land water margins that support plants and animals adapted to wet conditions.
Wetlands are often located in the margins of lakes and rivers, but also occur on flats, slopes and basins, and on the margins of estuaries where they are often influenced by the tides. They may also be known as a bog, fen, swamp or marsh, indicating the different wetland types.
No two wetlands are exactly alike. Wetlands vary widely because of regional and local differences in:
- Soils
- Topography
- Climate
- Hydrology
- Water chemistry
- Vegetation
- Other factors including human disturbance.
Wetlands may also change over time as environmental conditions alter.