Wetlands may hold key to climate resilience

These crucial ecosystems are among the planet’s most effective natural defences against climate change and rising seas

From the mangroves of West Africa to the salt marshes of Northern Europe, wetlands store carbon at rates that far exceeds terrestrial forests. Indeed, studies suggest that coastal wetlands can sequester up to ten times more carbon than tropical rainforests. At the same time, they shield coastal communities from storm surges, erosion and flooding.

Yet despite their importance, wetlands are disappearing three times faster than forests. The Ramsar Convention estimates that 35% of the world’s wetlands have been lost since 1970, largely due to urban expansion, unsustainable agriculture, and industrial development.

The decline of wetlands is particularly concerning for low-lying coastal states. In Nigeria’s Niger Delta, for example, widespread mangrove destruction has not only undermined biodiversity but also increased the vulnerability of communities to tidal flooding. Similarly, in South East Asia, reclamation projects continue to erase natural buffers that once protected cities like Jakarta and Manila.

These losses have direct consequences for global climate policy. Every hectare of drained wetland releases stored ‘blue carbon’ back into the atmosphere, accelerating global warming.

Global momentum, local challenges

International frameworks now recognise wetlands as critical to climate adaptation and mitigation. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (2022) set ambitious targets for halting ecosystem loss, while UN’s Ocean Decade (2021–2030) explicitly highlights the role of coastal ecosystems in building resilience.

However, implementation on the ground is uneven. While nations such as Costa Rica and the Philippines have invested heavily in mangrove restoration, enforcement remains weak in many regions where wetlands continue to be cleared for aquaculture and infrastructure. The gap between high-level commitments and local realities remains wide.

For the marine and coastal engineering community, wetlands offer a pathway to rethink resilience strategies. Instead of relying solely on hard infrastructure such as sea walls, many countries are experimenting with nature-based solutions that integrate wetlands into coastal defence.

To this end, the Dutch Room for the River project has become a global reference point, combining floodplain restoration with engineered flood control. In Louisiana, large-scale marsh creation projects are underway to counter decades of land subsidence and storm surge risk.

The cost of inaction

The economic case for wetland protection is compelling. A World Bank report estimated that mangrove ecosystems alone prevent $65 billion in annual flood damages. Yet the benefits are often invisible until disaster strikes.

For policymakers, the question is not whether wetlands provide value, but whether nations can afford to keep losing them at current rates.

Wetlands are at a crossroads, either to continue on a trajectory of decline or be repositioned at the heart of climate action. Their value lies not only in biodiversity and aesthetics, but also in their ability to safeguard coasts, store carbon, and secure livelihoods.

Failure to recognise their role will leave societies more vulnerable, infrastructure more exposed, and climate goals further out of reach.

This article represents the views and thoughts of the author, and not necessary of IMarEST.

Mojibola Favour Arole is an emerging marine professional and marine biology student at the University of Lagos. Her work centres on wetland conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable resource management.

Image: salt marshes near St. Peter-Ording, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Credit: Shutterstock.