PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Wetlands are disappearing three times faster than forests. Policies, plans and programmes have underestimated their functions and there is not enough information to guarantee an adequate register of their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The complexity inherent in the management of these ecosystems is probably the main barrier behind this situation. Traditionally, wetlands have been considered as net emitters of GHGs. Recent studies have shown, however, that this is not always the case, at least in coastal and salt lagoons and wetlands. This opens a new scenario in which wetlands conservation not only contributes to biodiversity conservation but also serves as a tool to fight against climate change.
OBJECTIVES
The main objective of LIFE WETLANDS4CLIMATE is to establish management guidelines for Mediterranean wetlands so that they function as carbon sinks, while maintaining their ecological integrity and functionality to provide a full range of unimpaired ecosystem services.
The projects specific objectives are to:
Maximise the carbon sink function of Mediterranean wetlands through practical management actions and monitoring indicators, to demonstrate that such management is aligned with biodiversity conservation; Transfer the lessons learned to other Mediterranean wetlands in Spain and Europe; Transfer the tools to public land managers (local, regional, and European bodies) as well as the measures, best practices and lessons learned; Replicate the methodology at European level in other wetlands; Involve the private sector in financing mitigation and adaptation measures to climate change focused on water and wetlandmanagement; Contribute to the achievement of the Paris Agreements through better management and conservation of wetlands in the EU; and Integrate wetland management and conservation with the EU's objectives and orientated climate change mitigation. The project is directly relevant to the EUs climate change policy objective of at least a 40% reduction in GHG emissions compared with 1990 by 2030; the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 objective of restoring degraded and carbon-rich ecosystems; and LULUF (Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry) policy by providing a methodology to quantify GHG emissions and promoting the carbon sink function of wetlands. It is also in line with the EU Water Framework Directive, Habitats Directive and Birds Directive objectives of restoring wetlands, for their ecosystems services, habitats and species; as well as the global Aichi biodiversity target 15 on ecosystem resilience and carbon reserves.
RESULTS
Expected results:
Design of a practical protocol to evaluate the capacity of wetlands as carbon sinks, defining the influence of different environmental variables and management actions, and producing management recommendations; Creation of a Monitoring and Knowledge Transfer Committee, involving and coordinating authorities/competent bodies, experts and stakeholders dealing with wetland management and climate change; Definition of 30 management measures (related to vegetation, soil and water) that increase the carbon sink capacity of wetlands. Definition of management and assessment matrices for different measures to establish trade-offs in relation to ecosystem services with special attention to carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation; Management guidelines to increase the carbon sink function of coastal and saline wetlands, and a database of results of carbon cycle process rates and other management indicators; Monitoring indicators for vegetation, soil, and water management measures, including indicators of the ecological status of wetlands; Evaluation of the socio-economic impact of measures, economic study of the profitability and competitiveness of different management models, including public use and sociological study of the level of acceptance of wetlands and the Natura 2000 network; Presentations at approx. 10 events, including national and international conferences, and publications in high-impact science journals. Approx. 100 000 people informed about the project, a documentary and 10 short videos, and 30 news broadcast on local and national television; Training of 60 wetland managers and transfer to at least 6 other EU countries; Transfer of results to legislative proposals at regional, national and European level, with support from entities dedicated to climate change and/or wetlands (30 entities) such as RAMSAR or IPCC; and Methodology presented to the international standard of the voluntary carbon market on restoration of Mediterranean coastal and saline wetlands, quantifying the sequestration of greenhouse gases in wetlands for inclusion in the voluntary carbon market.
