Saving Saltmarshes: Essential for a net zero future
Saltmarshes around the UK coast are significant stores of carbon dioxide
Saltmarshes around the UK coast are significant stores of carbon dioxide but face increasing threat from rising sea levels, according to new research.
The findings come from a report published by conservation charity WWF in partnership with insurance provider Aviva. The study highlights the role of saltmarshes in combating climate change and protecting coastal areas.
Using a solar-powered carbon flux tower on the Ribble Estuary in Lancashire, researchers measured the exchange of carbon dioxide between the atmosphere and the saltmarsh. This method, previously used for woodlands and peatlands, has now been adapted to assess saltmarshes. The Ribble site is the first in a planned network of similar monitoring stations.
Data from the site show that saltmarshes act as carbon sinks, absorbing more carbon dioxide in spring and summer than they release in autumn and winter.
The report calls for saltmarshes to be included in the UK’s greenhouse gas inventory. This inclusion would help improve national emissions tracking and support policies and funding for saltmarsh restoration and protection.
According to experts, 85% of UK saltmarshes have been lost since the mid-19th century. Those that remain provide important benefits, including carbon capture, flood protection, and wildlife habitat. They also help protect coastal infrastructure valued at more than £200 billion in England and Wales.
The study, conducted with the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and the RSPB, also examined whether saltmarshes are able to keep pace with rising sea levels. Surface elevation tables were used to track changes in marsh height across six UK locations.
While saltmarshes in areas such as Chichester and The Wash appear to be expanding, sites in North Norfolk and the Ribble Estuary are struggling to maintain height as sea levels rise.
Tom Brook, ocean conservation specialist at WWF, said: “The results are in, and mud matters. Saltmarshes are powerful natural allies in the fight against climate change – storing carbon, protecting our coasts and supporting rich biodiversity.
“As extreme weather and rising sea levels put more people and places at risk, the case for protecting and restoring these habitats has never been stronger.
“This research adds to a growing body of evidence showing that saltmarshes are not just ecologically important but essential to building a resilient, net zero future.”