Wetlands matter

'Wetlands are the planet’s most effective carbon sinks and represent unrealised potential for climate mitigation. Peatlands are particularly important; they store twice as much carbon as the entire world’s forest biomass. Drained peatlands alone are responsible for 5% of the global greenhouse gas emissions. Coastal wetlands - mangroves, tidal flats and seagrass beds - now being referred to as “blue carbon ecosystems” also play an important role in carbon sequestration.

Wetlands make communities more resilient to the impacts of climate change. They provide buffers against sea level rise and storm surges and reduce the impacts of floods, droughts and cyclones.

Importantly, human adaptation to the impacts of climate change cannot happen without wetlands. Wetlands are the primary source of water for human consumption, energy and agriculture in all its forms. And they provide important social and economic services, with billions of people depending on wetlands for their livelihoods.

Yet, despite all the critical services that wetlands provide, 64% of the world’s wetlands have been lost in the last century. We continue to lose wetlands at the rate of 1% per year, which is faster than the rate of deforestation. This must change. We need to stop and reverse this trend, to ensure that wetlands continue to provide multiple benefits to people.

And we need to use the potential of wetlands to mitigate and adapt to climate change by including them in Nationally Determined Contributions and in strategies to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.'

The online article Coastal Wetlands, by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, develops these themes in more depth:

Why are coastal wetlands important?

Coastal habitats provide ecosystem services essential to people and the environment. These services are valued at billions of dollars. They include:

• Flood Protection: Coastal wetlands protect upland areas, including valuable residential and commercial property, from flooding due to sea level rise and storms

• Erosion Control: Coastal wetlands can prevent coastline erosion due to their ability to absorb the energy created by ocean currents which would otherwise degrade a shoreline and any associated development

• Wildlife Food & Habitat: Coastal wetlands provide habitat for many threatened and endangered species
• Commercial Fisheries: Over 50 percent of commercial fish and shellfish species in the Southeastern United States rely on coastal wetlands
• Water Quality: Wetlands filter chemicals and sediment out of water before it is discharged into the ocean
• Recreation: Recreational opportunities in coastal wetlands include canoeing, kayaking, wildlife viewing and photography, recreational fishing and hunting
• Carbon Sequestration: Certain coastal wetland ecosystems (such as salt marshes and mangroves) can sequester and store large amounts of carbon due to their rapid growth rates and slow decomposition rates

Why are coastal wetlands being lost?

Coastal wetland losses occur as a result of both human activity and natural processes.

Human Activity: Human activities which may lead to losses of coastal wetlands include urban and rural development, agriculture, and silviculture. These land use changes can also indirectly impact nearby wetlands by altering hydrology through increased runoff or water withdrawals in the watershed. Most of this loss occurs in freshwater wetlands. Over half of the US population lives in coastal counties, intensifying the stress on coastal wetlands relative to inland areas.

Natural Processes: Coastal wetlands, especially estuarine and marine wetlands, are naturally altered by high energy events such as erosion and inundation from sea level rise and storms. The impacts of these processes may be magnified by climate change and shoreline armoring. Estuarine wetlands typically protect the coastline from erosion and flooding, but if sea level increases and development prevents inland migration of wetlands, more wetlands will be converted to open water.

Protecting wetlands: We can make decisions in our everyday lives which help preserve coastal wetland area and maintain their ecology:

1. Participate in programs that help protect and restore wetlands
2. Report illegal actions such as unauthorized wetland fill or dredging activities
3. Pick up litter and dispose of it in appropriate containers. Keep surface areas that wash into storm drains clean from pet waste, toxic chemicals, fertilizers and motor oil
4. Use native species when planting trees, shrubs and flowers to preserve the ecological balance of local wetlands
5. Use "living shoreline" techniques that make use of plant roots to stabilise soil if you own waterfront property
6. Avoid wetlands if you are expanding your house or installing a shed
7. Use phosphate-free laundry and dishwasher detergents. Phosphates encourage algae growth, which can suffocate aquatic life
8. Use paper and recycled products made from unbleached paper. Bleached paper contains toxic chemicals that can contaminate water
9. Use non-toxic products for household cleaning and lawn and garden care
10. Enjoy the scenic and recreational opportunities coastal wetlands offer, while preserving their integrity for future generations by staying in designated visitor areas

Picture credits: 1) Ernesto Bruschi - Unsplash.com 2) Jason Schuller - unsplash.com 3) Michelle Cintron - unsplash.com