Fire brigade fights major fire in New Zealand wetland with endangered species

Fire brigade fights major fire in New Zealand wetland with endangered species

A massive fire is currently raging through a protected wetland in New Zealand, threatening its delicate ecosystem and the rare species that live there that are not found elsewhere on earth.

Fire in the Waikato Wetlands

The fire in the Waikato wetlands on the country's North Island is 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) in circumference and has damaged more than 1,000 hectares (2,471 acres) since it broke out on Monday, authorities said. They warn it could take days to bring the fire under control.

Threat to carbon storage

Experts have highlighted the potential damage to one of New Zealand's largest carbon sinks. These environments – such as oceans and forests – remove more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than they contribute and are critical to combating global warming and the effects of the climate crisis.

Fire brigade in action

About 50 firefighters, along with helicopters and planes, are working at the scene south of Auckland, the country's largest city. Authorities say there is no immediate threat to residents and businesses in the area.

Challenges posed by peat

“This is a large fire and it could take several days to get it properly under control,” said Incident Chief Mark Tinworth in a news release Wednesday. The presence of peat - accumulated, slow-degrading plant materials found in bogs and wetlands - makes the fire particularly challenging because it can also burn underground and is difficult to locate and extinguish.

Ecological importance of the wetland

The fire poses a significant threat to the wetland and its valuable habitats, which are found in few other places. This wetland is a mosaic of swamps, bogs, wetlands and open water surrounding two rivers and is recognized as one of three nationally important areas in the government's restoration program.

Ramsar Convention and Endangered Species

As part of the Ramsar List, an international treaty that aims to protect important wetlands, it is also home to breeding grounds for endangered bird species. Department of Conservation Waikato operations manager Niwha Jones said these birds include the Australasian bittern (matuku-hūrepo in Māori), the spotless crake (pūweto) and the North Island fernbird (mātātā).

Rare species in the wetland

The wetland is also home to many other rare plants and fish, including the endangered Moorhelm rarity, which is found nowhere else in the world.

The origin of the fire is still unclear

It is still unclear where or how the fire started and investigators are on scene to determine the cause. Even before the fire, the Waikato Wetland, like many other unique habitats in New Zealand, was at risk from environmental degradation and the climate crisis.

An endangered ecosystem

According to Department of Conservation reports, the area has changed dramatically over the years due to human land use, increased flooding and the introduction of non-local species, which has threatened the health of the ecosystem and its ability to perform critical functions.

Importance of carbon sinks

The wetland is a type of raised bog, a “very rare habitat” and “one of the last in the Southern Hemisphere,” Jones continued. Carbon sinks are critical to mitigating global warming and other impacts of the climate crisis. Long known as the “lungs” of the planet, the Amazon rainforest stores the equivalent of 15 to 20 years of global carbon stocks.

Risks from public drone operations

The fire has already led to the release of some of the stored carbon into the environment. However, Jones explains that it is too early to assess the full extent of the damage or impact on the ecosystem. Authorities also warned the public not to fly drones near the fire after the sighting of a drone forced firefighters to briefly suspend operations to avoid the risk of mid-air collisions.

Protecting a valuable area

“This is a truly beautiful part of the country with significant ecological value and we are doing our best to prevent it from being destroyed,” Tinworth said in a separate statement.