Wetland Fires and Their Environmental Impact in New Zealand

Published on: October 21, 2024•Updated: November 2025•2 min read

by KnowESG

Wetland Fires and Their Environmental Impact in New Zealand

Peatlands act as carbon sinks, which suck out a lot of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Fires in 2022 affected the functioning of peatlands and New Zealand's carbon reduction targets.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) has released a new report to provide estimates of the soil and vegetation loss from peatland fires that occurred in 2022 at Kaimaumau–Motutangi (Northland) and Awarua (Southland) wetlands in New Zealand.

If the country had to pay for the carbon released from the above incidents, it would be around $32 million based on current market prices for carbon.

The areas were peatlands, known for their ability to store carbon over long periods. In 2022, the Kaimaumau fire burned over 2,900 hectares, while the Awarua fire claimed around 980 hectares.

As a result, a huge amount of carbon was released into the atmosphere, estimated to be more than 5,15,000 tonnes from Kaimaumau and over 1,04,000 tonnes from Awarua, heavily disrupting New Zealand's carbon reduction targets.

Peatlands act as natural carbon sinks. They remove carbon dioxide from the air and store it in the soil. But, the fires hamper this natural process by releasing the stored carbon back into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.

Incineration occurs when wet peat soils dry out and catch fire easily. We can prevent such incidents and protect these wetlands by reducing drainage.

The raging inferno also destroyed over 3000 hectares of native plants and habitats for endangered species such as the Australasian bittern and some freshwater fish.

DOC freshwater scientist Hugh Robertson, said: "Recovery and restoration of the Kaimaumau and Awarua wetlands will require extensive weed control, as the bare, burnt ground allows exotic plants to establish."

To learn more about the study, click here.

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Source: DOC