Wetland Restoration
Rehabilitating degraded wetlands to restore ecological functions and carbon sequestration.
What is Wetland Restoration?
Wetland restoration is the process of actively rehabilitating degraded or lost wetland ecosystems, such as marshes, swamps, and bogs. This often involves re-establishing their natural hydrology, planting native wetland vegetation, and removing invasive species or pollutants to restore their ecological functions.
Why is Wetland Restoration important?
Wetland restoration is important for climate change mitigation because wetlands are highly effective carbon sinks, storing large amounts of carbon in their soils and vegetation. Beyond carbon, they provide critical ecosystem services like water purification, flood control, shoreline protection, and essential habitats for diverse wildlife.
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Frequently asked questions
Common types include freshwater marshes, swamps, bogs, fens, and coastal salt marshes and mangrove forests (which fall under blue carbon).
Wetlands are waterlogged, creating anaerobic conditions that slow down the decomposition of organic matter, leading to the accumulation of large carbon stocks in their soils and sediments over time.
Co-benefits include improved water quality, enhanced flood control, increased biodiversity, erosion control, recreational opportunities, and support for local economies through fisheries and ecotourism.