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Top ten priorities for global saltmarsh restoration, conservation and ecosystem service research

Julien Pétillon, Emma McKinley, Meghan Alexander, Janine B. Adams, Christine Angelini, Thorsten Balke, John Griffin Orcid Logo, Tjeerd Bouma, Sally Hacker, Qiang He, Marc J.S. Hensel, Carles Ibáñez, Peter I. Macreadie, Simone Martino, Elwyn Sharps, Rhoda Ballinger, Davide de Battisti, Nicola Beaumont, Daryl Burdon, Pedro Daleo, Andrea D'Alpaos, Mollie Duggan-Edwards, Angus Garbutt, Stuart Jenkins, Cai Ladd Orcid Logo, Heather Lewis, Giulio Mariotti, Osgur McDermott, Rachael Mills, Iris Möller, Stefanie Nolte, Jordi F. Pagès, Brian Silliman, Liquan Zhang, Martin W. Skov

Science of The Total Environment, Volume: 898, Start page: 165544

Swansea University Authors: John Griffin Orcid Logo, Cai Ladd Orcid Logo

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Abstract

Coastal saltmarshes provide globally important ecosystem services including ‘blue carbon’ sequestration, flood protection, pollutant remediation, habitat provision and cultural value. Large portions of marshes have been lost or fragmented as a result of land reclamation, embankment construction, and...

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Published in: Science of The Total Environment
ISSN: 0048-9697 1879-1026
Published: Elsevier BV 2023
Online Access: Check full text

URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa63912
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Abstract: Coastal saltmarshes provide globally important ecosystem services including ‘blue carbon’ sequestration, flood protection, pollutant remediation, habitat provision and cultural value. Large portions of marshes have been lost or fragmented as a result of land reclamation, embankment construction, and pollution. Sea level rise threatens marsh survival by blocking landward migration where coastlines have been developed. Research-informed saltmarsh conservation and restoration efforts are helping to prevent further loss, yet significant knowledge gaps remain. Using a mixed methods approach, this paper identifies ten research priorities through an online questionnaire and a residential workshop attended by an international, multi-disciplinary network of 35 saltmarsh experts spanning natural, physical and social sciences across research, policy, and practitioner sectors. Priorities have been grouped under four thematic areas of research: Saltmarsh Area Extent, Change and Restoration Potential (including past, present, global variation), Spatio-social contexts of Ecosystem Service delivery (e.g. influences of environmental context, climate change, and stakeholder groups on service provisioning), Patterns and Processes in saltmarsh functioning (global drivers of saltmarsh ecosystem structure/function) and Management and Policy Needs (how management varies contextually; challenges/opportunities for management). Although not intended to be exhaustive, the challenges, opportunities, and strategies for addressing each research priority examined here, providing a blueprint of the work that needs to be done to protect saltmarshes for future generations.
Keywords: Saltmarsh conservation and restoration, Ecosystem services, Global variation, Socio-ecological interactions, Research priorities
College: Faculty of Science and Engineering
Funders: The Authors acknowledge the financial support provided by the Welsh Government and Higher Education Funding Council for Wales through the Sêr Cymru National Research Network for Low Carbon, Energy and Environment which was used to support the hosting of the workshop.
Start Page: 165544