BEST PRACTICE
Resilient Coasts & Wetlands
Wetlands are among the most carbon-dense and biodiverse ecosystems on Earth, with habitat for up to 40% of all species. Over half of the world’s wetlands have disappeared since 1900.
Wetlands occupy only 4% of all land, but are disappearing at rates three times faster than forests, with up to 25% of all wetland plant and animal species at risk of extinction.
Mangroves cover only .7% of land but account for 10% of emissions from deforestation globally. 30 to 50% of mangroves around the world have already been lost.
Seagrass covers less than 0.2% of the ocean floor, but stores 10% of the carbon buried in the oceans each year. Approximately 30% of global seagrass has already been lost.
Protecting and restoring wetlands can reduce and absorb up to 5% of climate emissions, make our coasts more resilient to rising seas, and prevent the loss of rare and essential habitats.
Protecting wetlands can prevent the loss of biodiverse habitats, endangered species, and our best natural flooding and erosion control, while keeping our most carbon-rich soils intact.
Restoring and protecting mangroves can sequester carbon, avoid emissions from deforestation, and provide natural barriers against storms and rising seas, while providing sanctuaries for threatened species.
Protecting and restoring seagrass can store twice as much carbon as terrestrial forests per unit area, while buffering coasts from erosion, and providing essential habitat for fisheries and marine species.
