Abstract
This Saltmarsh Habitat Restoration Handbook aims to provide practical guidance on restoring and creating saltmarsh habitat across the UK and Ireland. It brings together advice on planning and implementing such schemes with case studies and lessons from previous examples.
Restoring saltmarsh habitat requires a diverse mix of approaches depending on the location, surrounding landscape and condition. Overall, this handbook aims to support greater application of both small scale feasibility projects, as well as larger, more complex saltmarsh restoration efforts.
This handbook is aimed at catchment/coastal partnerships, eNGOs and community groups looking to undertake their own saltmarsh restoration project. It aims to lead to the creation of more saltmarsh habitat, leading to (amongst others..) improved biodiversity & water quality, adaption to climate risks, and carbon benefits.
Contents:
Chapter 1 - An introduction to what saltmarsh is, why it is important, the threats to saltmarsh habitat and the concept of restoring resilient and well functioning saltmarsh
Chapter 2 - Information about starting a restoration project including choosing a site, project planning, choosing a design and calculating the benefits of restoring saltmarsh
Chapter 3 - An overview of the consents and licences likely to be required and key organisations to contact about licensing
Chapter 4 - An outline of how to effectively communicate a restoration project before, during and after changes are made
Chapter 5 -A non-technical summary of the different approaches and methods to restoring saltmarsh habitat, and advice regarding monitoring and maintenance
Historically, saltmarshes were converted to agricultural and development land, especially during the 18th and 19th centuries. Reversing that trend and restoring saltmarsh habitat can help the UK and Ireland to deliver benefits for flood and coastal risk management, climate change mitigation, biodiversity recovery and promoting human wellbeing. As we enter the UN decade on ‘Ecosystem Restoration’ (https://www.decadeonrestoration.org/) and ‘Ocean Science for Sustainable Development’ 2021-2030, we recognise humanity’s dependence on healthy, robust and functioning marine ecosystems. We need to protect and restore ecological systems that provide nature-based solutions (NBS) and resilience to the challenges we now face. To restore saltmarsh habitat, with the many ecosystem services it provides, will require a diverse mix of approaches depending on the location, surrounding landscape and extent of degradation or loss. Overall, this handbook aims to support greater application of both small scale feasibility projects, as well as larger, more complex saltmarsh restoration efforts.
Restoring saltmarsh habitat requires a diverse mix of approaches depending on the location, surrounding landscape and condition. Overall, this handbook aims to support greater application of both small scale feasibility projects, as well as larger, more complex saltmarsh restoration efforts.
This handbook is aimed at catchment/coastal partnerships, eNGOs and community groups looking to undertake their own saltmarsh restoration project. It aims to lead to the creation of more saltmarsh habitat, leading to (amongst others..) improved biodiversity & water quality, adaption to climate risks, and carbon benefits.
Contents:
Chapter 1 - An introduction to what saltmarsh is, why it is important, the threats to saltmarsh habitat and the concept of restoring resilient and well functioning saltmarsh
Chapter 2 - Information about starting a restoration project including choosing a site, project planning, choosing a design and calculating the benefits of restoring saltmarsh
Chapter 3 - An overview of the consents and licences likely to be required and key organisations to contact about licensing
Chapter 4 - An outline of how to effectively communicate a restoration project before, during and after changes are made
Chapter 5 -A non-technical summary of the different approaches and methods to restoring saltmarsh habitat, and advice regarding monitoring and maintenance
Historically, saltmarshes were converted to agricultural and development land, especially during the 18th and 19th centuries. Reversing that trend and restoring saltmarsh habitat can help the UK and Ireland to deliver benefits for flood and coastal risk management, climate change mitigation, biodiversity recovery and promoting human wellbeing. As we enter the UN decade on ‘Ecosystem Restoration’ (https://www.decadeonrestoration.org/) and ‘Ocean Science for Sustainable Development’ 2021-2030, we recognise humanity’s dependence on healthy, robust and functioning marine ecosystems. We need to protect and restore ecological systems that provide nature-based solutions (NBS) and resilience to the challenges we now face. To restore saltmarsh habitat, with the many ecosystem services it provides, will require a diverse mix of approaches depending on the location, surrounding landscape and extent of degradation or loss. Overall, this handbook aims to support greater application of both small scale feasibility projects, as well as larger, more complex saltmarsh restoration efforts.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Environment Agency |
| Number of pages | 105 |
| Publication status | Published - 5 Nov 2021 |