How is the Glenelg Ramsar area managed?

Estuary and Discovery Bay Ramsar Management Plan (Glenelg RMP) guides the range of activities for the site.

The Glenelg RMP provides a focus for management strategies to protect site values and that support the unique ecological character of the area. Parks Victoria, as the Site Manager, will work on behalf of Department of Environment Land Water and Planning, the Crown Land Owner, through collaboration with Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority, the Ramsar Site Coordinator.

Together with a community representative and other agencies (Gunditj Mirring TOAC, Southern Rural Water and Glenelg Shire Council) these agencies will implement management requirements for the Glenelg Ramsar site.

The Ramsar nomination has no effect on how people use the Parks and or how neighbouring property owners manage their adjoining private property.

Anniversary celebrations and community forum

As a celebration of the first 12 months of the Glenelg Estuary Discovery Bay area as a Ramsar-listed site a community forum was held in November 2019.

This event allowed environmental managers, Traditional Owners, environmental support organisations and others involved in the management of the area to update the community on what had been achieved and discovered in the preceding 12 months, and the plans going forward.

It included outcomes from monitoring projects, as well as discussing the impacts to the local economy, tourism the environment. One of the projects to be discussed will be the monitoring of the population of Tupong and the relationship to and wetland connectivity on improving numbers.

Other topics discussed included Nature Glenelg’s Trust management of Long Swamp restoration, endangered species research findings, as well as the importance of ecological literacy for future generations.