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7 Days to Protect Australian Wetlands: Your 2026 Challenge Starts Here

When you think about protecting the environment, you might picture planting trees in a forest or cleaning up a beach. But what if we told you that some of the most powerful conservation actions happen right in your own home – and even in your driveway?

This World Wetlands Day, Conservation Volunteers Australia invites you to join our 7 Days to Protect Australian Wetlands Challenge – a week-long journey of simple, practical actions that make a real difference for these vital ecosystems.

Why wetlands need your help

Wetlands are where water meets land, creating some of the most biodiverse and productive ecosystems on Earth. They’re nature’s water filters, flood buffers, and coastal protectors – while providing homes to countless plants and animals.

But they’re in trouble. Since 1970, an estimated 22% of global wetlands have been lost, with an ongoing annual decline of 0.52%. Around 25% of remaining wetlands are in poor ecological condition, and this proportion is increasing in all regions.

Here in Australia, the situation is equally concerning. Over a century of unsustainable land and water management has severely reduced both the health and extent of our wetlands (NSW State of the Environment 2024). In South Australia alone, we’ve already lost 70% of our wetlands. Nearly all 97% of NSW’s rivers and major streams have been substantially modified by land use change.

For First Nations peoples, this loss is particularly devastating. As expressed in the NSW State of the Environment 2024 report: “For First Peoples, water is a sacred source of life. The rivers are the veins of Country, carrying water to sustain all parts of our sacred landscape. The wetlands are the kidneys, filtering the water as it passes through the land.”

The surprising connection between your driveway and wetlands

Here’s what many people don’t realise: one of the most significant sources of water pollution comes from something we do regularly, washing our cars at home.

When you wash your car in your driveway or on the street, the runoff (containing soap, oil, grease, and grime) flows directly into storm drains and, untreated, into local waterways and wetlands. Phosphates in many detergents are particularly harmful, triggering excessive algae growth that leads to oxygen depletion, fish kills, and degraded aquatic ecosystems.

It’s just one example of how wetlands aren’t just affected by what happens near rivers and coasts. They’re deeply connected to our daily choices at home.

The hidden pollution in everyday actions

Beyond car washing, consider the broader picture of how our home activities impact wetlands:

In 2023-24, Australians consumed 4.0 million tonnes of plastic. Australia has the highest consumption of single-use plastic per capita globally, with each person using an average of 60 kilograms annually. Much of this plastic (especially litter left on streets and in gutters) eventually washes into storm drains and ends up in wetland ecosystems.

Even something as simple as walking past litter on the footpath matters. That plastic bottle or food wrapper will likely be washed into drains during the next rain, joining countless other pieces of rubbish on their journey to our waterways and wetlands.

And there’s another surprising pollutant: many sunscreens contain chemicals that wash off our skin and eventually reach wetlands, harming the aquatic life that calls these places home.

Your 7-day journey to wetland protection

Our challenge transforms awareness into action with seven daily activities that fit seamlessly into your routine. Each day focuses on a different aspect of wetland protection – from surprising sources of pollution you might not have considered, to simple swaps that make a real difference.

Some days you’ll focus on what goes down your drains. Other days, you’ll look at what you bring home from the shops or what you leave behind on your daily walks. By the end of the week, you’ll have built a toolkit of practical habits that protect wetlands without disrupting your life.

The best part? These aren’t complicated environmental gestures that require special equipment or major lifestyle changes. They’re simple, doable actions that anyone can take – whether you live in a city apartment or a house with a garden, whether you’re a busy professional or a family with kids.

Ready to discover what your seven days hold? Download the full guide to get started.