A new method for identifying coastal wetland restoration sites

A large proportion of Australia’s coastal wetlands have been lost and degraded from  drainage and exclusion of tidal flows for agriculture, urban and industrial land-uses. Restoration efforts face challenges due to limited data on where coastal wetland restoration may be possible and their carbon-capture potential in vegetation and soils, known as “blue carbon.” Without feasibility studies, restoration projects struggle to secure carbon market funding, hindering progress.

A recently published study introduces a regional-scale method for identifying coastal wetland restoration sites. This novel approach offers crucial insights for policymakers and planners to integrate ecological restoration with economic viability. The method adapts to a region's unique characteristics, identifying sites that provide blue carbon, biodiversity, fisheries, water quality, and coastal protection benefits.

What sets this approach apart is its active engagement with Traditional Custodians and incorporation of local knowledge, ensuring the restoration is tailored to each region’s needs. Another highlight of the paper is its consideration of the potential impact on threatened and migratory species, particularly those inhabiting artificially created freshwater wetlands which may be restored to natural tidal wetlands. This level of detail is essential for achieving conservation goals while restoring degraded wetlands.

One of the study's key findings is the importance of co-benefits at restoration sites. The delivery of more co-benefits at sites is likely to result in higher carbon prices and could make wetland restoration more economically feasible. “The strategic identification of coastal wetland restoration sites that provide multiple ecosystem services is important for the success of blue carbon projects,” said Dr Valerie Hagger from the University of Queensland, the lead researcher on the project. “Restoration projects that bundle multiple benefits are key to making these efforts sustainable and to utilise public funding”.

This new framework is likely to become an important tool for regions looking to restore coastal wetlands. By offering a blueprint for regional restoration, it can guide planning efforts to restore coastal wetlands whilst also delivering environmental, cultural, and economic benefits.

This publication is an outcome of Marine and Coastal Hub Project 1.15, led by Dr. Valerie Hagger from the University of Queensland.

Citation: Hagger V., Stewart-Sinclair P., Rossini R. A., Adame M. F., Glamore W., Lavery P., Waltham N. J. and C. E. Lovelock (2024) Lessons learned on the feasibility of coastal wetland restoration for blue carbon and co-benefits in Australia, Journal of Environmental Management 369.