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Wetlands & Reefs

Why Does it Matter

Wetlands and reefs are of critical importance to the environment in Australia, providing a range of ecological, economic, and social benefits. In Australia, wetlands are found in various forms, including marshes, swamps, billabongs, and floodplains, and cover approximately 6% of the continent's landmass. Wetlands in Australia are vital for water regulation, acting as natural filters that remove pollutants and nutrients, and playing a key role in water storage and flood control. They are also critical habitats for a range of bird species, including migratory birds, and support many fish and aquatic species. Australian wetlands also have significant cultural and spiritual importance to Indigenous communities, who have been managing them sustainably for thousands of years.

Similarly, reefs are essential to the Australian marine environment, with the Great Barrier Reef being the world's largest coral reef system, covering an area of approximately 344,000 square kilometers. The reef provides a unique habitat for a diverse range of marine species, including over 1,500 fish species, six of the world's seven species of marine turtle, and a range of sharks, rays, and dolphins. The reef also plays an important role in protecting the Australian coastline from storm surges and provides a range of ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling. The Great Barrier Reef supports a vibrant tourism industry, providing employment opportunities and contributing to the economy of Queensland. However, the reef is under threat from climate change, pollution, and overfishing, and it is critical that we work to protect it for future generations.

How is Earthwatch Making a Difference?

Mangroves, Tidal Wetlands, and Saltmarsh

Earthwatch partners with MangroveWatch and wetlands researchers across Australia and New Zealand, building the capacity of citizen scientists and Indigenous Rangers to monitor the condition and health of wetlands and translate that knowledge to protect these unique ecosystems.  

Our research also fills the knowledge gaps – nationally and internationally – about blue carbon and the forest dynamics of this habitat that contributes to its function as a powerhouse among nature’s carbon sinks for nature-based solutions to climate change.   

Blue Carbon

Blue Carbon is the name given to the carbon stored in coastal wetland ecosystems.

It also describes the critical ecosystem service that environmental markets want to see developed into carbon abatement projects, where organisations offset their carbon emissions by paying land managers (via a credit scheme) to protect and enhance these habitats.    

Tidal wetlands and saltmarsh sequester up to four times more carbon than terrestrial forests and for longer, as the carbon is stored in both the plant and below the ground, trapping carbon away for hundreds of years.   

Get involved

You can get involved through our many projects aimed at conserving key areas and furthering research.

TRAVEL WITH PURPOSE

Recovery of the Great Barrier Reef

Mitsubishi Corporation and the Australian Institute of Marine Science work to fill knowledge gaps that will help reef managers to make evidence-based decisions about active interventions.

This will support the Great Barrier Reef’s recovery, and the recovery of reefs around the world.

STUDENT CHALLENGE

Protecting the Reefs Coastal Frontier

The Earthwatch Student Challenge is a once in a lifetime opportunity for a select number of Year 10 - 12 students to experience environmental research first hand. In this Challenge, students help researchers understand how mangrove forests respond to severe flood events and develop strategies to protect and enhance these coastal habitats into the future.