Coastal wetland loss, consequences, and challenges for restoration

TLDR

Coastal wetlands, including mangroves, coral reefs, salt marshes, and seagrass beds, have lost over 50 % of their area in the 20th century due to anthropogenic and natural pressures, resulting in habitat loss, greenhouse‑gas emissions, and flooding, while restoration is hampered by limited knowledge of vegetation–morphology interactions and competing land‑use demands. The study calls for multidisciplinary efforts—physico‑chemical, biological monitoring, modeling, design, and site‑specific restoration—to address coastal wetland loss.

Abstract

Abstract Coastal wetlands mainly include ecosystems of mangroves, coral reefs, salt marsh, and sea grass beds. As the buffer zone between land and sea, they are frequently threatened from both sides. The world coastal wetland lost more than 50% of its area in the 20th century, largely before their great value, such as wave attenuation, erosion control, biodiversity support, and carbon sequestration, was fully recognized. World wetland loss and degradation was accelerated in the last three decades, caused by both anthropogenic and natural factors, such as land reclamation, aquaculture, urbanization, harbor and navigation channel construction, decreased sediment input from the catchments, sea level rise, and erosion. Aquaculture is one of the key destinations of coastal wetland transformation. Profound consequences have been caused by coastal wetland loss, such as habitat loss for wild species, CO 2 and N 2 O emission from land reclamation and aquaculture, and flooding. Great efforts have been made to restore coastal wetlands, but challenges remain due to lack of knowledge about interactions between vegetation and morphological dynamics. Compromise among the different functionalities remains a challenge during restoration of coastal wetlands, especially when faced with highly profitable coastal land use. To solve the problem, multi-disciplinary efforts are needed from physio-chemical–biological monitoring to modelling, designing, and restoring practices with site-specific knowledge.