Investment in restoration of coastal wetland ecosystems is increasing due to concerns around habitat loss, water quality, decline in fish catches, coastal inundation and erosion, and climate change. Coastal wetlands, including mangroves, saltmarshes, seagrasses and tidal freshwater forests like Melaleuca have significant capacity to sequester carbon dioxide contributing to blue carbon stocks. They provide habitat for coastal fisheries and a range of biodiversity and are culturally important. This project aims to develop a method, that can be widely used across Australia, to identify coastal wetland restoration sites for blue carbon projects based on a value-based framework that considers biophysical suitability, wetland values (biodiversity, fisheries, nitrogen removal, Indigenous heritage, and flood mitigation), benefits to Traditional Owners, regulation and policy adequacy, and economic feasibility.
