Publications
Management plans
Travis Wetland, Draft Landscape Development Plan
Introduction
The Canterbury region contains an extensive network of lakes, rivers, water races and estuaries stretching from the high-country, across the Plains, to the coast. Travis Wetland is located in northeastern Christchurch close to sea-level and is part of the eastern green corridor linking sites of ecological and recreational importance. The wetland represents an ecosystem that is becoming increasingly scarce in Canterbury and is the only viable refuge for the stabilisation of Christchurch's declining pukeko population. It is therefore the key element of this habitat type in the City's evolving network of nature areas.
The primary purpose of Travis Wetland Nature Heritage Park is to enable the restoration and maintenance of wetland habitat and to help sustain a living city that integrates cultural activity and natural heritage. Effective restoration and careful management of the wetland will protect and enhance the remnants of a historical wetland system with its soils, plants, insects, reptiles, fish and birds. As an urban wetland park, the enhanced remnant will provide the clearest representation of how prehistoric Christchurch may have appeared. In this respect Travis will provide the missing link in the Garden City's network of parks. At the same time opportunities for education and passive recreation will be created.
Travis Wetland is a site of National Importance for its soil and vegetation system and of regional significance for its pukeko (Porphyrio porphyrio) population. It also provides habitat for a large number of other bird species including, seasonally, the white heron (Egretta alba) and visiting Australian cattle egrets (Bulbulcus ibis). Of the remaining lowland freshwater wetlands in the Christchurch area Travis Wetland offers the greatest potential for restoration of modified wetland, the creation of margin forest habitats, the provision of ponding areas to encourage greater numbers of waterfowl and the reintroduction of locally extinct birds.
Contents
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Travis Pukeko. |
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