Ramsar Wetlands (updated March 2026)

Brief description

Summary
Ramsar wetlands are those that are representative, rare or unique wetlands, or are important for conserving biological diversity. Listing provided by the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).

Abstract
National dataset of Australia's Ramsar Wetlands.

The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (the Ramsar Convention) was signed in Ramsar, Iran on 2 February 1971. The Ramsar Convention aims to halt the worldwide loss of wetlands and to conserve, through wise use and management, those that remain. The Convention encourages member countries to nominate sites containing representative, rare or unique wetlands, or that are important for conserving biological diversity, to the List of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar sites). Australia was one of the first countries to become a Contracting Party to the Convention and designated the world's first Ramsar site, Cobourg Peninsula, in 1974.

This project was initiated by the Wetlands Section of the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Spatial data was sourced from the relevant State and Territory agencies and compiled into a single national coverage.

Participating Agencies:

ACT Government, Environment and Planning Directorate,
NSW Office of the Environment and Heritage,
NT Department of Land Resource Management,
Qld Department of Department of Environment and Heritage Protection,
SA Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources,
Tas Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment,
Vic Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning,
WA Department of Environment and Conservation.
Currency
Date modified: 29 January 2026

Modification frequency: As needed

Data extent
Spatial extent

North: -10.466231°
South: -42.828841°
East: 159.233333°
West: 96.799917°

Temporal extent

From 20 November 2002 to Present

Source information
This dataset is provided by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Notes

Source: Digital Atlas of Australia / DCCEEW