Mangroves, floodplains, highland and other wetlands can reduce the impacts of increased precipitation, storms, glacier melting and even sealevel rise. The water regulating and storage functions of these wetlands are crucial in adapting to a changing climate.

Climate change is expected to contribute to rising sea levels and to more extreme weather events like heavy rainfall, prolonged droughts, increased water needs due to high temperatures, and severe storms. Poor people in particular are very vulnerable to these impacts. They often depend directly on the foods, fibre and clean drinking water that natural wetlands supply, as well as for shelter and protection.

Degradation increases vulnerability

Currently, inland and coastal wetlands are being damaged and degraded faster than any ecosystem type. This means that people all around the world are becoming more vulnerable to flooding, droughts, storms and their livelihood sources are becoming more scarce.

Wetland restoration: response to climate change

Therefore, in order to protect people living close or even far downstream from wetlands and their source of livelihoods, we must conserve and restore wetlands. In this way, they can continue to play their critical role. Read more on our adaptation work.