Wetlands and climate regulation.

 



Wetlands are vital allies in the fight against climate change and disaster risk.


• Different types of wetlands act in different ways before, during and after disasters to help lessen their impact and enable communities to bounce back. • Blue carbon ecosystems – specifically coastal wetlands such as mangroves, seagrasses and salt marshes – continuously take up atmospheric carbon dioxide and store large amounts in soils and sediments. They also buffer coastlines from rising sea levels and storm surges. • Traditional burning techniques, seasonal migrations and land-use patterns are examples of climate-smart practices deeply embedded in cultural knowledge. • Practices such as pruning, weeding, reseeding and traditional burning have helped maintain wetlands, secure access to culturally important plant species, and prevent large-scale fires. • The restoration gap for peatlands and mangroves alone has been estimated at $316 billion by 2050 and for coastal wetlands, between $27 and $37 billion annually. • Restoring and protecting blue carbon ecosystems is a powerful, nature-based way to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

“WITHOUT URGENT INVESTMENT IN THESE SYSTEMS, CLIMATE GOALS WILL REMAIN OUT OF REACH.” – Convention on Wetlands






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