Wetlands, including salt marshes and tidal flats, are ecosystems of high ecological value for both nature and people. They play a crucial role in supporting diverse wildlife and in addressing the effects of climate change by storing carbon and serving as natural buffers against coastal erosion and flooding.
Despite their vital importance, these fragile ecosystems remain highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Over the decades, they have undergone major transformations, resulting in a considerable loss of their area and degradation of their condition. This decline poses serious consequences—not only for the diverse species that rely on them but also for the critical ecosystem services they provide to nearby human communities.
Growing awareness of their ecological importance and protective functions, along with increased restoration efforts, is needed to conserve biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and strengthen the resilience of coastal communities.
Wetlands International, in collaboration with the Conservation Evidence Group at the University of Cambridge, has published new guidelines titled “Restoration, Creation and Management of Salt Marshes and Tidal Flats.”
These guidelines are a critical resource for practitioners and decision-makers involved in the management of intertidal habitats—particularly those leading restoration projects on tidal flats and salt marshes—by providing clear, evidence-based guidance.
While the primary focus is on managing these systems as habitats for shorebirds, the guidelines also offer valuable insights applicable to the broader conservation and sustainable management of these coastal ecosystems.
The aim is to enable practitioners to easily access and evaluate existing evidence and practical knowledge, and to consider how it applies to the specific context and conditions of their own sites when planning future management and restoration efforts.
The guidelines can be downloaded here:
References:
Cutts V., Erftemeijer P.L.A., Gaffi L., Hagemeijer W., Smith R.K, Taylor N.G. & Sutherland W.J. (eds.) (2024) Restoration, creation and management of salt marshes and tidal flats: A collation of evidence-based guidance. Report of Conservation Evidence, Wetlands International and the World Coastal Forum. https://doi.org/10.52201/CGSCOL1/LCNC6109
For more information, please contact:
Lorenzo Gaffi, Senior Technical Officer, Wetlands International
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