How to rescue wetlands from human driven mistreatment

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2021-08-06 04:00

Australia; NSW

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It may be possible to rescue struggling wetlands by mimicking the daily and seasonal tidal flooding levels in healthy coastal wetlands, according to Aussie research. Researchers attempted to restore the Tomago Wetlands, a Rasmar listed coastal saltmarsh known to be a habitat for migratory birds which has been put at risk by human mismanagement. The team recreated the saltmarsh habitat onsite with water levels based on similar vegetation patterns in an adjacent estuary, using 2D modelling to assess the best way to implement their target water level on the site. Over eight years the team observed substantial saltmarsh expansion and suggest that this technique should be used worldwide to rescue struggling wetlands.