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A GLOBAL
OVERVIEW OF WETLAND AND MARINE
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Print the PDF File |
A GLOBAL
OVERVIEW OF WETLAND AND MARINE
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2. NATURAL WORLD HERITAGE SITES WITH SECONDARY MARINE AND WETLAND VALUES
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COUNTRY |
SITE NAME |
AREA |
WETLAND VALUES |
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NEARCTIC REALM |
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CANADA |
40. Gros
Morne National Park |
180,500ha |
The park's marine areas comprise the inner portion of St Paul's Inlet, inter-tidal zones and estuaries. The site contains meandering creeks, eutrophic bog lakes and oligotrophic lakes. It is a significant breeding site for harlequin duck, common tern, and arctic tern. It is a nesting site for bald eagle, and a stopover for migrating shore birds. Anadromous Atlantic salmon and arctic char are found in park waters and also in permanent freshwater in landlocked lakes. |
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CANADA |
41. Nahanni
National Park |
476,560ha |
Includes a major part of the Nahanni River, one of North America's finest wild rivers; also hot springs, falls and extensive karst terrain with a complex underground river system. Avifauna includes trumpeter swan (near threatened) and bald eagle. Arctic grayling and Dolly Varden trout occur in the streams that flow into the Nahanni and Flat Rivers. |
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CANADA & USA |
42. Tatshenshini-Alsek/
Kluane National Park/ Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Reserve and
Glacier Bay National Park |
9,839,121ha |
The Tatshenshini-Alsek river system, recognised as potential Canadian Heritage Rivers, contributes 95% of the chinook salmon, 90% of the sockeye salmon and 75% of the coho salmon for the commercial fishery in the Dry Bay area of the Gulf of Alaska. These fish stocks support a multi-million dollar industry. Further, this river system is one of only three major salmon-bearing rivers on the northern Pacific coast, with an important sustenance fishery for the people of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations being found at Klukshu. Mammals include mink, river otter, beaver and muskrat. Glacier Bay includes significant marine components and their characteristic species. |
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CANADA & USA |
43. Waterton
Glacier International Peace Park |
52,525ha |
The park is centred around a long, narrow 'glacier trough' lake which straddles the 49th Parallel, effectively joining the two parks. The Waterton-Glacier Park complex is situated at the junction of three of the continent's major drainage systems. Headwater streams flow west into the Columbia drainage, east into the Missouri, and north into the Saskatchewan (Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Hudson Bay, respectively). Waterton is located on the margin of two major avian migratory routes; the Central and Pacific flyways overlap here, and the marsh and lake areas of the park are used extensively as staging areas. The pygmy whitefish is known only from Waterton Lake. |
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USA |
44. Great
Smoky Mountains National Park |
209,000ha |
Many of the mountain ridges branch and subdivide from the central ridgeline, creating a complex of drainage systems with 3,057km of fast-flowing clear mountain streams. The park contains 45 watersheds and the water table is near the surface in almost all sections. Racoon are present; beaver, apparently once common here, are beginning to reappear in several valleys, and river otter have been successfully reintroduced. Reptile species include seven turtles. Heavy precipitation and numerous streams make the mountains ideal for a wide variety of amphibian species including about 30 salamander, two toads and at least ten frogs. For its size, the park has one of the richest salamander faunas in the world with species that vary from the endemic pigmy salamander, to the aquatic hellbender. Over 40 species of native fish inhabit the streams, including eastern brook trout (the park's population may be a separate and threatened subspecies). Other threatened fish species include smoky madtom, yellow-fin madtom (V) and spotfin chub, which are currently being reintroduced into the park. |
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USA |
45. Mammoth
Cave National Park |
21,191ha |
The Mammoth Cave area is an internationally important karst area. It contains the longest cave system in the world, with known passages extending for over 550km. Groundwater flows from the extensive recharge areas on the plateau, southwest through the park's cave system to springs that discharge into the Green River. Nowhere else do the two species of blind fish (V) and their spring cave-dwelling relative co-exist. Resident animal species listed as federally endangered include Kentucky cave shrimp (E), and five species of freshwater mussel. The federally endangered bald eagle has been observed wintering and may be nesting in the park. |
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USA |
46. Redwood
National Park |
44,610ha |
The park's 55km coastline consists of steep, rocky cliffs broken by rolling slopes and broad sandy beaches and is home to 15 of the 22 salamander species found in western North America of which 3 are Category 2 candidates for Federal and State listing, and 3 are species of special concern to the State of California. Nationally threatened species include Pacific fisher. |
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PALEARCTIC REALM |
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CHINA |
47. Huanglong
Scenic and Historic Interest Area |
70,000ha |
There are several large areas of travertine pools, notably along the 3.6km Huanglonggou (Yellow Dragon Gully) with extensive calcite deposition. Algae and bacteria proliferate in a number of these pools giving a wide range of colours from orange and yellow to green and blue. There are two important areas of hot springs in this site, whose waters have a high mineral contents and are said to have important medicinal properties. Mouni Gully also contains a number of attractive lakes, and the Zhaga Waterfall. |
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CHINA |
48. Jiuzhaigou
Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area |
72,000ha |
The best known features are the large number of lakes in the area: many are classic ribbon lakes at the base of glacially formed valleys which have been dammed naturally, for example behind rockfalls from avalanches. Also of note are a number of large and spectacular waterfalls. |
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CHINA |
49. Wulingyuan
Scenic and Historic Interest Area |
26,400ha |
The site covers the entire drainage basin of the Suoxi Brook which winds for 69km through the site. It also covers the headwaters of several other streams. Huanglong or Yellow Dragon Cave is said to be one of the ten largest caves in China; it is 11km long, and includes a waterfall 50m high. The site is popularly known to have '800 brooks and streams'; in reality, there are perhaps 60, several of which flow underground for long distances. One of the side branches of this river has been dammed, creating Baojeng Lake. This lake was created for water supply, flood control and to enhance the habitat for the threatened Chinese giant salamander (I) as well as to provide a boating resource. Another threatened species is the Chinese water deer (V). |
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CROATIA |
50. Plitvice
Lakes National Park |
19,200ha |
The area is noted for its lakes, caves and waterfalls. The lakes were created by the deposition of calcium carbonate precipitated in water through the agency of moss, algae and aquatic bacteria. This resulted in the building of biodynamic travertine (tufa) barrier dams at about 1cm/year, creating smaller and larger lakes interlinked by cascades and waterfalls up to 80m in height. |
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HUNGARY & SLOVAKIA |
51. Caves
of Aggtelek and Slovak Karst |
see notes |
The site is an underground one consisting of 712 caves. The size is unknown. Surficial area of the Aggtelek National Park and Protected Landscape Area Slovak Karst is 55,873ha. Of particular scientific interest are the 500 species of troglodyte fauna, with many aquatic species. The most notable primitive crab is the endemic species Niphargus aggtelekiensys. Several mollusc species are associated with underground streams; one underground snail is endemic. |
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JAPAN |
52. Yakushima
(Yaku-Island) |
10,747ha |
Yakushima Island is almost 2,000m high and is the highest mountain in southern Japan. Topography from coastline to the mountainous summits is extremely steep. Yakushima occupies a strategic situation on the boundary between Holoarctic and Palaeotropic biogeographical regions. |
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OMAN |
53. Arabian
Oryx Sanctuary |
2,750,000ha |
The coastal beaches and lagoons are habitat for flocks of resident and migrating waders including gulls, terns, flamingoes, herons and several species of ducks who winter on the lagoons. Saline and brackish springs act as vegetated oasis areas various birds, mammals and Aphanus dispar, an indigenous fish species. |
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RUSSIAN FEDERATION |
54. Virgin
Komi Forests |
3,280,000ha |
The western part comprises marshes and floodplain islands. Other features are tundra, lakes, bogs, fisheries and wild rivers. Low altitude wetter areas such as Sphagnum bogs support Sphagnum moss with cranberry, bilberries and cloudberries. Beaver (reintroduced)(E) and otter (V) are found in the rivers. A number of waterfowl species including goldeneye, goosander, wigeon, teal and bean goose breed in the area. The 16 fish species include salmon, grayling and whitefish, and almost all rivers in the designated site provide salmon spawning grounds. |
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SLOVENIA |
55. Skocjan
Caves |
400ha |
The grottos are the beginning of a system of underground passages from their source to Timavo on the Gulf of Trieste in Italy. The river enters Skocjan grotto in an underground passage 350m long, reappearing at the bottom of two 150m deep and 300m long chasms, before disappearing into a 2km long passage, which is one of the largest underground canyons in the world reaching 148m in height and widths of 100m. The ecosystems preserved in the dolinas and cave systems contain a number of internationally threatened species. |
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SWEDEN |
56. The
Lapponian Area |
940,000ha |
Lapponian contains entire protected river systems such as the Vuojattno, Rapa„tno and Muddusjokk rivers, the Rapa River Delta in the Laitaure Lake, and extensive uninhabited taiga. Padjelanta consists of a plateau surrounding the large lakes Vastenjaure and Virihaure, the latter known as "Sweden's most beautiful lake". The bog surrounding the central lake in Muddus, Muddusjaure, supports a variety of birds and a large area has been set aside as a bird sanctuary, with entry prohibited. Globally threatened species include otter (V) and white-tailed eagle (V), which formally covered all of Sweden, but is now reduced to two populations. The population in the Lapponian Area is considered the only healthy one, containing 50-100 pairs. |
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UK |
57. The
Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast |
70ha |
Although the site was primarily listed for its geology, its 6km stretch of coastline comprises a series of headlands and bays, with cliffs averaging 100m high. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds regards the site as one of importance within the United Kingdom based on the number of breeding species. Over 50 resident and 30 migrant species have been recorded. |
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YUGOSLAVIA |
58. Durmitor
National Park |
32,000ha |
The River Tara, one of the last wild rivers in Europe, has pure, clear waters, a gorge of 1,300m depth and notable floristic and faunistic diversity. There are 16 glacial lakes of the Durmitor and the canyons of the Tara, Susica and Draga rivers. The waters of the largest lake, Black Lake (Crno jezero), feed two separate river basins: the River Tara, and underground through the Durmitor Massif to the River Komarnica or Piva. The unusual hydrology of Black Lake and the virgin forest of Mlinski are the principle reasons for the area's special management status. There is also a 5ha peat bog (Barno Lake) at 1,450m with an interesting lacustrine flora. The Tara and its tributaries, as well as the lakes, contain a large number of salmonidae. |
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AFROTROPICAL REALM |
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CAMEROON |
59. Dja
Faunal Reserve |
526,000ha |
The Dja River encircles most of the reserve then flows west along its long northern boundary, then southern boundary, before flowing southeast as a tributary to the Congo. Cliffs run along the course of the river in the south for some 60km, and are associated with a section of the river broken up by rapids and waterfalls. The type locality of Dja River warbler (K) is near the reserve and there are few other records of this kind. Two threatened species of crocodile are present. |
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CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC |
60. Parc
National du Manovo-Gounda St. Floris |
1,740,000ha |
Five major rivers run down from the massif through the park to the Bahr Aouk and Bahr Kameur, and the park includes the complete basins of three of these. The site has extensive flood-plains in the north, with large seasonal populations of pelican and marabou stork. The threatened shoebill stork (K) occurs here, as well as shorebirds, many other waterbirds, and crocodile. There are at least 25 species of raptor including African fish eagle. |
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COTE D'IVOIRE |
61. Comoé
National Park |
1,149,250ha |
The park comprises an interfluvial plain between the Comoé and Volta rivers. The wetlands attract an enormous number and range of birds, with some endemic. All three African crocodile species are found here; slender-snouted (V) (9%), Nile (90%), and dwarf crocodile (1%). |
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SENEGAL |
62. Niokolo-Koba
National Park |
913,000ha |
Contains wide floodplains, periodically-flooded sands, marshes (those on higher ground have reduced surface area and very acid and peaty soil) and ponds. All three African crocodiles are present; Nile, slender-snouted (V) and dwarf crocodile. |
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TANZANIA |
63. Selous
Game Reserve |
5,000,000ha |
A large area of the reserve is drained by the Rufiji River and tributaries which include the Luwegu, Kilombero, Great Ruaha, Luhombero and Mbarangardu (the only permanently flowing streams). Selous claims to have the largest concentration in the world of crocodile and hippopotamus. The rich birdlife includes knob-billed duck. |
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DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO |
64. Salonga
National Park |
3,600,000ha |
Rivers in the west of the north sector are large and meandering with marshy banks. On the higher ground in the east, valleys are deeper, and rivers may run below cliffs up to 80m high. The south sector includes the watershed between the basin of the Luilaka to the north and east, Likoro to the west, and Lukenje to the south. The principal forest types are swamp, riverine, and dry-land forests. Reptiles include African slender-snouted crocodile (I). |
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ZAMBIA/ZIMBABWE |
65. Victoria
Falls / Mosi-oa-Tunya |
6,860ha |
The Mosi-Oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls National Park is one of the world's most spectacular waterfalls. The falls and gorges are an outstanding example of river capture and the erosive forces of the water continue to sculpture the hard basalts. The Falls form a geographical barrier between the distinct fish faunas of the upper and middle Zambezi River: 39 species of fish are found in the waters below the falls, including butter barbel, eastern bottlenose, chessa and nkupe; and 84 species above the falls, including African mottled eel, tigerfish, Kafue pike and silver barbel. The rich avifauna (400 species in the Victoria Falls region as a whole) includes a wide range of waterbirds along the river above the falls. Black stork breed in the gorges. |
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ZIMBABWE |
66. Mana
Pools National Park, Sapi and Chewore Safari Areas |
676,600ha |
The areas (excluding Dande) have extensive frontages along the lower Zambezi River from the Kariba Dam to near the Mozambique border. Seasonal tributaries crossing the valley floor support extensive riparian communities. An important concentration of Nile crocodiles (V) is found here. Birdlife on the river and in the bush is prolific with over 380 species including white-collared pratincole and banded snake-eagle, generally found near streams. Common fish include tiger fish, bream, vundu, kupi, chessa, cornish Jack, and lungfish. |
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INDOMALAYAN REALM |
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NEPAL |
67. Royal
Chitwan National Park |
93,200ha |
Royal Chitwan National Park is situated in a river valley basin along the flood plains of the Rapti, Reu and Narayani rivers. The protected area contains populations of Ganges river dolphin (V), whose population may have declined following the construction of a dam towards the Indian border. Other threatened aquatic species are mugger (V) (declining from at least 200 in 1978 to 70 in 1986/1988) and gharial (E). The fishing cat (K), a species threatened by wetland destruction, is also present. Chitwan is the only protected area where the following bird species considered to be at risk in Nepal have been found: yellow bittern, tawny fish owl, and deep blue kingfisher. |
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SEYCHELLES |
68. Vallée
de Mai Nature Reserve |
19.5ha |
Valee de Mai Nature Reserve is part of the island of Praslin and remained untouched until the 1930's. Within the protected area are three streams, the Nouvelle De'Couverte, the Riviere Fond and the principal river in the park, the Fond B'Offay, which flows westward into Baie Sainte Anne and is habitat for the endemic freshwater crab and the gourgeon, the only species of freshwater fish endemic to the Seychelles. |
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THAILAND |
69. Thungyai
- Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries |
577,464ha |
The terrain is generally hilly with many permanent and seasonal streams. The sanctuary comprises the catchment area of the Huai Kha Khaeng, which flows through the middle of the sanctuary, and much of the upper catchment area of the Huai Thap Salao. Small lakes, ponds and swampy areas occur, some being seasonal whilst others are perennial; these are important wildlife habitats. Limestone sink holes are found; some more than two kilometres long, 250m wide and 30m deep. Some 24-40 wild water buffalo (E), the only herd in Thailand, are found in the south of the sanctuary, but there is doubt about whether or not there has been interbreeding with domestic animals. At least two species of otter have been identified, namely Oriental small-clawed and smooth-coated (VU). The giant Asiatic toad and Asiatic giant frog are nationally rare species. The site contains one of the last important areas of lowland riverine forest remaining in Thailand, which supports the last viable populations of several riparian bird species in the country. These include green peafowl (V), lesser fishing eagle, red-headed vulture and crested kingfisher. Other birds which are now rare in Thailand include white-winged wooduck. |
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VIET NAM |
70. Ha Long
Bay |
150,000ha |
The unique features of Ha Long Bay include numerous limestone rocks from the Hon Gai sea, schistic islands from the Cam Pha sea and a limited number of earth islands formed from decayed lateric mountians. There are a total of 1,600 islands (1,000 named) and islets, some rising to 100-200m, with numerous caves and grottoes. The principal conservation values include biological diversity, especially in marine species. Preliminary surveys indicate the presence of about 1,000 fish species. To the east of the Bay medium size islands feature almost vertical slopes. Numerous caves and grottoes are found, with stalactites and stalagmites |
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OCEANIAN REALM |
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USA |
71. Hawaii
Volcanoes National Park |
92,934ha |
The
park lies in the south-east part of Hawaii Island and extends from the
southern coast to the |
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AUSTRALIAN REALM |
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AUSTRALIA |
72. Tasmanian
Wilderness |
1,383,640ha |
Of particular note is the wide range of lentic (still water) and lotic (flowing water) ecosystems. Owing to their unusual hydrological properties, Lake Sydney and Lake Timk have developed interesting marginal herbaceous communities, while the Snowy Range contains examples of dynamic string bog systems represented by bolster plants. Meromictic lakes and coastal lagoons, with their unusual micro-organisms, are also important wetlands. On a larger scale, the south-west coast has a wide range of plant communities peculiar to salt marsh and coastal areas. The property contains each of the eight Sphagnum peatland communities and 21 of the 33 coastal vegetation communities located in Tasmania. The endemic orange-bellied parrot (R), occurs here, one of Australia's rarest and most threatened birds, which is dependent upon wetlands for part of its lifecycle. There are four endemic fish species and two other native fish, swamp galaxias (V) and Lake Pedder galaxias (V), are largely restricted to the area. |
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AUSTRALIA |
73. Wet
Tropics of Queensland |
894,420ha |
The
main reasons for listing of this site were the tropical forest values,
but there is also a significant coastal component. Fringing reefs occur
in the northern section of the region and are most extensively developed
between Daintree and Bloomfield rivers. The association between coastal
rainforest and fringing coral reef to the extent it occurs off Cape Tribulation
and environs appears to be undocumented elsewhere in the world. The reefs
are part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Site. The mangrove forests
comprise some 30 species of trees and shrubs, comparable in diversity
to those of New Guinea and South-east Asia which are acclaimed as being
among the richest in the world. The region of highest diversity lies between
Ingham and Innisfail. The most common genera are Rhizophora and Bruguiera,
as well as Ceriops in some areas. |
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NEOTROPICAL REALM |
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ARGENTINA |
74. Los
Glaciares National Park |
445,900ha |
The area includes extensive icefields and fresh water lakes, which play a key role in the region's hydrology. Although the site has a low biological diversity, it contains small populations of mammals and birds that are of particular conservation concern, such as the torrent duck. |
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ARGENTINA/BRAZIL |
75. Iguazú
and Iguaçu National Parks |
225,000ha |
These parks share one of the world's largest waterfalls where the River Iguacu falls off the steep edge of southern Brasilian plateau, at this point 1,200m wide and extends over 2,700m and drops 72m into a 80m wide canyon. The falls were probably initially located at the confluence of the Iguazú and Parana Rivers some 20,000 years ago, but erosion has caused them to recede 28km upstream to their present location. Threatened river fauna include giant otter (V), La Plata otter (V), Broad-nosed cayman (E) and Brazilian merganser (E). |
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PERU |
76. Rio
Abiseo National Park |
274,520ha |
The
park encompasses the Abiseo River basin which is surrounded by an orographic
system. The major rivers of Maranon and Huallaga, both tributaries of
the Amazon, run on either side of the park. On the western border are
the Chirimachay, Los Chocos, Manachaqui and Montecristo river valleys.
Species considered to be in danger of extinction include South American
pochard (I). The rich herpetological fauna includes 15 unique species
of anurans which are highly site specific. Protection of the Abiseo River
basin was the second stated objective in establishing this protected area
(after protection of the pristine cloud forest). |
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VENEZUELA |
77. Canaima
National Park |
3,000,000ha |
The distinctive tepui formations (table mountains) give rise to numerous waterfalls, including Angel Falls, the world's highest at 1002m. The Río Caroní, with its many tributaries arising within the park, supplies the Guri dam which provides electricity to large areas of the country. The threatened giant otter (V) is present, and there are high levels of endemism among the amphibian and fish fauna. |
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