For the first time since the 1970s, large tracts of coastal wetlands devastated by acid runoff in Queensland have been successfully restored. Nearly 40 years ago when developers cleared 800 hectares of tidal wetland, a drying process began that caused the soils to release large amounts of acid and destroyed the habitat
for fish and wildlife.

In 2001, Australian scientists launched a project to bring back the region’s pristine state by gradually re-flooding the area and adding hydrated lime as needed.Thus, the same waters where once nothing could survive now host mangroves and a return of the wetlands, along with hundreds of bird species and fish.

Professor Ravi Naidu of CRC CARE, a private company assisting in the remediation services, said that this successful restoration could offer hope to the some  40 million hectares of acid coastal wetlands currently existing around the world.

A big bravo, Professor Naidu, CRC CARE, Australian government and all caring scientists for this recent eco-achievement. May we all be similarly motivated toward actions that restore the balance of our co-existence with all beings in nature.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/03/2784419.htm?site=news
http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1804029/worldfirst_cleanup_of_acid_wetlands
/index.html?source=r_science