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By Pieter van Eijk, Copenhagen, December 2009

Wetlands for mitigation and adaptation. &. An overview. By Pieter van Eijk, Copenhagen, December 2009. Contents. The importance of wetlands for adaptation and mitigation Mangroves Saltmarshes Seagrasses Inland wetlands Examples of ecosystem-based approaches

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By Pieter van Eijk, Copenhagen, December 2009

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  1. Wetlands for mitigation and adaptation & An overview By Pieter van Eijk, Copenhagen, December 2009

  2. Contents • The importance of wetlands for adaptation and mitigation • Mangroves • Saltmarshes • Seagrasses • Inland wetlands • Examples of ecosystem-based approaches • Conclusions and policy recommendations

  3. Mangroves: mitigation Large stocks in living biomass Up to160 T C/ha

  4. Mangroves: mitigation But also below-ground storage: 2.67 T C/ha/yr Net Primary Productivity13.8 T/ha/year Source IUCN 2009 POC/DOC 1.17 T C/ha/yr 10 T C/ha/yr: fate unknown

  5. Mangroves: adaptation • Mitigating storm damage:1.5 metre waves eliminated; Tsunami research: 6 metre high waves largely absorbed • Withstand annual sealevel rise of up to 3-9 mm • Reducing erosion: Red cross mangrove planting in Vietnam:€ 1 million investment € 7 million annual return from reduced maintenance works

  6. Saltmarshes: mitigation & adaptation Little storage in biomass, a lot in soils! Unknown decomposition Unknown outflow Net Primary Productivity0.6 - 8.12 T C / ha/year Source IUCN 2009 POC/DOC Adaptation potential: • Prevention of storm damage and erosion • Economic value of US saltmarshes for storm protection: 250- 51.000 USD/ha/year 2.1 T C/ha/yr

  7. Seagrasses: mitigation & adaptation Significant storage in root biomass (70 T C/ha), some in soils ~68% Net Primary Productivity 4 - > 8 T/ha / year Source IUCN, 2009 POC/DOC ~24% ~ 0,83 T C/ha/yr Adaptation potential: • Reducing erosion and wave power

  8. Freshwater wetlands Mitigation: Adaptation: • Peatlands and forested wetlands: large carbon stocks • Rather small stocks in other freshwater systems • Methane emissions can be high • Mitigating floods, droughts and fires • Preventing saltwater intrusion • Supporting food production

  9. 1. Creating coastal mangrove buffers > 2000 ha planted

  10. 1. Creating coastal mangrove buffers Our mangrove sites after 1 year…

  11. 1. Creating coastal mangrove buffers Our mangrove sites after 7 years…

  12. 1. Creating coastal mangrove buffers Our mangrove sites after 10 years…

  13. 2. Restoring peatland functions 2003 2006 Ruoergai peatlands china – Avoided emissions and restored water regulation for millions downstream

  14. 3. Increasing water retention capacity Wular lake, India: Management plan to increase water retention capacity by 25%: buffering of floods and droughts 1911 2007 ? Lar Haigam Cannal Manasbal Jhelum R.

  15. 4. Hybrid engineering Design by DHV Consultancy & Engineering Waddenworks (Netherlands): Linking hard- and soft infrastructure

  16. Conclusions • Ecosystem-based adaptation and mitigation: Crucial, cost-effective and multiple side benefits • Not the only solution: link to community- and engineering-based approaches • More research needed to reveal their full potential

  17. Policy recommendations • Explicit recognition in adaptation and mitigation policies and planning • Avoid maladation: other measures should not negatively impact on ecosystem functioning • Include sustainability guidelines in adaptation funding frameworks: Strategic Environmental Impact asessments?

  18. More Information? www.wetlands.org Pieter.vanEijk@wetlands.org

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