Wetlands worth more than $47 trillion a year

Global wetlands are worth the equivalent of over US$47 trillion dollars a year, based on 2011 value, making up around 44 per cent of the value of all natural biomass, according to Australian and international research. The analysis also found that coastal wetlands, including coral reefs, salt marshes and mangroves, which make up around a sixth of the global natural wetland area, contribute almost half of this value. Much of the dollar value of wetlands comes from their ability to regulate water, and for coastal wetlands, erosion protection also plays a major role.