The Ramsar site is located within the Narriearra Caryapundy Swamp National Park, approximately 50 km east of Tibooburra in north-western New South Wales.
The site covers 70,176 hectares and includes a diverse range of temporary wetlands, floodplains and creeks.
Caryapundy Swamp in the Narriearra Caryapundy Swamp National Park was listed as a Ramsar site in 2021.
Why these wetlands were listed as a Ramsar site
Countries that are signatories to the Ramsar Convention can nominate sites to be recognised as Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar sites). The site must meet at least one of 9 internationally accepted criteria.
Caryapundy Swamp was listed as a Ramsar site in 2021 because it meets the following criteria.
Criterion 1: Representative or unique wetlands
The site forms a substantial part of the large terminal basin in the Bulloo River Catchment, a highly representative and relatively natural wetland area.
Criterion 2: Threatened species or ecological communities
Caryapundy Swamp provides valuable habitat for several threatened wetland species, including:
- grey falcon
- plains-wanderer
- Bulloo grey grasswren.
Almost 90% of the available habitat for the Bulloo grey grasswren is found at this site.
Criterion 3: Populations of plants and/or animals important for maintaining biodiversity of a particular bioregion
Caryapundy Swamp provides habitat for many species, with 118 native fauna and 133 native plant species recorded between 2010 and 2021.
The site provides breeding and non-breeding habitat for waterbird species, including the pink-eared duck, grey teal, black-tailed native-hen and brolga.
Plant species found in the site such as lignum, swamp canegrass, nitre goosefoot, and golden goosefoot all provide important swamp habitat for wetland fauna.
Criterion 4: Supports species at a critical stage of their life cycle or provides refuge in adverse conditions
The wetlands act as an important stopover site for migratory shorebirds such as the curlew sandpiper, marsh sandpiper and red knot. These species are protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and international migratory bird agreements.
As the swamp is in the terminal basin of the Bulloo River Catchment, it also serves as a drought refuge for waterbirds and other fauna during dry periods. The wetlands are an important water source for fauna species such as arid desert birds.
How the site is managed
Management of this Ramsar site is guided by the following:
- the site’s Ramsar information sheet
- its ecological character description
- a statement of management intent for Narriearra Caryapundy Swamp National Park.
Threats to the Ramsar site
The main threats to this site’s ecological character include:
- human settlements (non-agricultural)
- water regulation
- agriculture and aquaculture
- transportation and service corridors
- human intrusions and disturbance
- introduced plants and animals
- climate change.