Barrett, IsabelleWatson, T2024-05-082024-05-082022-11-222022https://hdl.handle.net/10182/17187Wetlands are diverse systems with significant ecological, cultural and economic value. Many current and former wetlands are located on farms, which is unsurprising given New Zealand’s agricultural development history (e.g wetland drainage to increase land for production). Successful management and protection of these systems, particularly under agricultural pressures, requires a holistic approach which addresses gaps in our scientific understanding, but also applies a practical lens which acknowledges feasible approaches. The Wetland Science Plan was developed as part of the New Zealand Landcare Trust’s ‘Managing Wetlands as Farm Assets’ project, to identify opportunities for future research, with a view to improving future wetland science and management capability. Development of the Wetland Science Plan involved the consideration of existing and potential research, as well as discussions with scientists from diverse disciplines, farmers, practitioners, mana whenua, and industry representatives. Harnessing this momentum and encouraging continued discussion, particularly at the interface between science and practice, is vital for the future of wetland science. We identify scientific knowledge gaps, acknowledge barriers, and present recommendations to advance wetland practice on farms. Valuable research is already being planned and carried out in this space; for example, recent guidelines have been produced for the design of constructed wetlands. However, substantial gaps remain in scientific understanding and delivery of action-based research, and there is room for improvement regarding communication of science to practitioners and incorporation of Mātauranga Māori. Practical science needs of farmers include guidance to manage wetlands in ways that are conducive to farming practices (e.g. investigating the potential role of grazing as a management tool), and creation of opportunities for farmers to engage positively with wetlands and to understand their unique values, including through citizen science. Wetlands are complex, diverse systems and must be managed as such, thus there cannot be a one-size-fits-all management approach. Unfortunately, there is also a scarcity of wetland science capability, with few wetland science recruits coming through at a time when established specialists are nearing the end of their careers. We discuss opportunities to bolster wetland expertise, informed by multi-disciplinary science and rapidly evolving legislation.Conference Contribution - unpublished