Building on our European conference ‘Biodiversity and Climate Change: Riverine and Coastal Wetlands’ in September 2023, organised by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) and the European Network of Head of Nature Conservation Agencies (ENCA), and supported by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, we aim to publish key findings in an edited volume. The European conference brought together renowned wetland scientists, national and international policy-makers and restoration practitioners from all across Europe.
The aim of this special issue is to identify and discuss the critical role of coastal and riverine wetlands in providing essential services to people and nature. It will focus on the restoration and conservation of wetlands as vital nature-based solutions to address the intertwined global crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. By analysing the increasing pressures that climate change imposes on wetland ecosystems, this special issue will emphasise the urgent need for sustainable management strategies. We aim to make this the definitive ‘go-to’ book for those seeking a comprehensive understanding of the unique interplay between wetlands, climate change, and biodiversity, showcasing the latest advancements in natural and social sciences, as well as practical insights from wetland management and policy perspectives.
It will bring together different disciplines and experts from science, policy and practice to highlight the importance of healthy wetlands for nature and people in a changing climate. The articles will provide a review of our current state of knowledge of the interplay between wetlands, climate change and biodiversity - as well as the implication of this relationship for nature conservation, sustainable use of natural resources and environmental planning. Practitioners will contribute to these sections by providing ‘case studies’ to ground the scientific research in real-world experience, sharing lessons learned from project implementations across Europe. Applied researchers will highlight the potential of restoration as a nature-based solution for climate change adaptation and mitigation, biodiversity and human well-being. Policy-experts will build on this by showcasing synergy potentials and providing recommendations for implementing and better aligning the European policy framework for the management and restoration of riverine and coastal wetlands.
Another unique characteristic is the special issue’s ‘source-to-sea’ approach that connects the spheres of riverine and coastal research and management, spanning a wide geographical range from the Danube’s wild islands to the UK’s Atlantic coast and from Mediterranean salt flats to the Oder delta. The book will focus on developments in Europe, recognizing that many of these are also reflective of wetland trends and challenges in other regions of the world.