"Blue recovery" critical to combating climate change

The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT), is the UK’s leading wetland conservation charity, managing 10 diverse wetland reserves across the UK, delivering amazing nature experiences across Britain for more than one million visitors every year and connecting many more people with nature where they live and work.

Supported by players, WWT’s expert team of conservationists work on a number of projects to help conserve, restore and create wetlands, save wetland wildlife and inspire everyone to value the amazing things healthy wetlands can achieve.

The fight against climate change and the decline of nature and has never been more important; moving into 2022, thanks to the support of players, WWT will be doing more to ensure wetlands play a central role in a "blue recovery" for people and wildlife, leading the creation and restoration of 100,000 hectares of wetlands in Britain. Wetlands are the most effective carbon sinks on earth and are critical for climate change adaptation and resilience.

By creating, restoring and conserving wetlands, the effects of global warming can be mitigated, the Earth’s natural defence mechanisms protected and people’s livelihoods future-proofed.

In 2021, an exciting discovery was made at WWT’s reserve at Steart Marshes. Research carried out with Manchester Metropolitan University found that WWT’s 250 hectare restored coastal saltmarsh at Steart stored as much carbon over four years as just over one million new trees grown for 10 years. This is equivalent to taking 32,900 UK cars off the road for one year or the greenhouse gas emissions from powering 77,930 UK homes for one year!

The WetlandsCan! Campaign includes publishing a map of wetland creation opportunities across the country and working with partners to create them. Families can get involved by creating ponds, drainpipe wetlands and bog gardens to help hit this target and improve vital wetland connectivity around the country.

Players have raised over £3 million in support of WWT’s work. This is helping WWT to:

• Maintain and improve WWT’s nine reserves so they are in the best possible condition for wildlife and all the people who visit to enjoy and learn about nature.
• Lead the creation and restoration of 100,000 hectares of wetlands in many locations around the country to help fight climate change, provide flood protection, places for families to relax and enjoy nature, mental health benefits and water filtration.
• Provide essential environmental education that inspires children to become the future generation of conservationists.
• Encourage communities to re-connect with nature for an improvement in wellbeing.