Welcome to WETMAK (Wetlands Monitoring and Assessment Kit) an online resource for community groups working on wetland restoration projects in New Zealand.
Are you making a difference? If the answer is yes, do you know how well you are doing… can you quantify progress? Which aspects are performing better than others and where should you focus future effort? If you would like the answers to these questions and increase your understanding of how well your wetland restoration project is progressing, then you are in the right place. WETMAK provides advice on useful monitoring techniques and methods of assessing the impact of your restoration work.
The kit is available in different formats to suit your needs. You can choose to download the entire resource or alternatively you may prefer to focus attention on specific modules. Either way you will find the material easy to use. In terms of technical difficulty, there are simple monitoring options available alongside more technically demanding investigation tools.
Download WETMAK, print out a few datasheets, pull on your gumboots and head out with friends and get measuring. Increasing understanding of your restoration work will bring huge rewards and provide useful information for future planning.
Below you can view WETMAK instructional videos and a wide variety of background material to some of the more technical modules.
WETMAK Training Modules
Helpful resources include: Wetland Restoration. A handbook for New Zealand Freshwater Systems – chapters available for free download here: landcareresearch.co.nz/publications/books/wetlands-handbook
View and download WETMAK training modules and resources at the bottom of this page.
Module 1: Creating a management map
Develop an electronic and interactive map for wetland managers and volunteers.
Module 2: Photopoints
Visually record changes to the wetland over time.
It is often said that a picture can speak a thousand words. Photopoint results can be dramatic! Photographs are taken from fixed points over time, to visually record change. We have made a video to help you with some handy hints.
There are more helpful tips on the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network website here: https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/conservation/monitoring/photo-points/
Module 3: Wetland ‘WOF’ check
Carry out a general wetland health check using broad indicators.
Many people have indicated they would like to learn about wetland plant species before they feel comfortable undertaking either a Perimeter walk or a WOF checklist.
This link can help you with plant identification: https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/habitats/wetlands/wetland-plants/
Module 4: Mapping wetland vegetation
Monitor broadscale change in vegetation type and cover.
We recommend getting in touch with your local Regional or District Council, or DOC office to find someone that can help with this particular module, if you don’t have the expertise to do it yourself.
Please note there are many links and useful readings in the back of the module. For example: How to draw shapes directly on screen to calculate the area of a zone of interest: mapdevelopers.com/area_finder.php
View and access DOC’s spatial data here: doc.govt.nz/maps
Module 5: Weed Survey
Detect new weeds early and measure the success of weed control works.
Helpful resources: Knowing how to use a GPS is a useful skill for this module. Different brands of hand held GPS’s have slightly different operating systems but the general principles a very similar. This information relates to the popular Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx.
Module 6: Vegetation plots
Study in detail plant cover, height, diversity as well as mix of natives and exotics.
Learn the details on how to set up and take measurements from a vegetation plot. This can be quite tricky, so view the video for more information.
Module 7: Animal Pest Monitoring
Monitor your pest control efforts and compare differences in activity levels over time.
Recording Data: Datasheets and templates
Photocopy datasheets and then complete them in the field. Includes templates for monitoring plans and reports.
Related documents and PDFs:
PDF: Module 1 Creating a Management Map
PDF: Module 2 Photopoints