Braided rivers provide a very complex and unique ecosystem on which many species rely. Human impacts on river systems have been vast, and include water and gravel extraction, disturbance caused by recreational uses, damming, as well as weed and mammalian predator encroachment.

These all affect the dynamics of the river’s flow as well as all organisms which need this system for survival. WMIL have been involved in braided river management over several decades and have a wide understanding of the complexities associated with these ecosystems.

Several endangered and endemic birds rely on these habitats, and we have undertaken a large variety of approaches and projects to develop management plans to aid in the birds’ conservation. This includes everything from designing and carrying out monitoring schemes to extensive predator trapping programmes, such as our project on the upper Clarence River to help protect the black-fronted tern.