Macquarie Marshes bushfire burns 3,000 hectares of internationally recognised wetland

Expert fears for long-term viability of Ramsar-listed wetland after fire sweeps through crucial bird habitat

A bushfire has burned through 3,000 hectares of the internationally significant Macquarie Marshes, placing a question mark over the long-term viability of a key section of the wetland, according to a leading expert.

The New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service has confirmed the fire hit the northern reed bed in the wetlands, which are listed under the Ramsar convention covering wetlands of international importance.