Nature Based Solutions (NBS) have emerged as a promising way to address societal challenges like climate change, water scarcity, and natural disasters. By leveraging the power of nature and its ecosystems, NBS offers cost-effective, sustainable solutions that provide multiple benefits for both humans and the environment. This growing area of research and activity includes a range of solutions, such as restoring degraded ecosystems, preserving natural habitats, and integrating green infrastructure into urban areas. As awareness of the impacts of human activities on the planet continues to grow, NBS is increasingly being recognized as an essential component of building more resilient societies. By harnessing the natural resources around us, we can find innovative solutions to some of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time.
Processes affecting carbon emission and sequestration in wetlands occur in the air, water, and soil.
Our group recognizes the vital importance of wetland restoration in returning many of the lost ecosystem services resulting from degradation. We measure the value of restoration for both people and nature, recognizing that restored wetlands provide essential services such as water purification, flood control, and habitat for wildlife. By assessing the value of wetland restoration, we can better understand the benefits and make informed decisions about where and how to prioritize restoration efforts. Our work aims to help ensure the long-term health and sustainability of our planet's ecosystems while also providing economic and cultural benefits to communities around the world.
Wetland restoration can provide valuable ecosystem services, including for climate change mitigation and adaptation, but only if these projects can be successfully implemented. Actors must navigate a complex policy and governance process involving collaborators, funders, permitting, and community engagement for wetland restoration projects. Social science methods, particularly social network analysis and qualitative case studies and interviews, can examine the ways that actors collaborate, share resources, and make decisions. Examining these processes as a network allows us to quantitatively and statistically test how existing collaborations and actor positions influence these processes. Social network analysis and stakeholder interviews allow us to understand decision-making and barriers to collaboration--essential knowledge to improve the implementation of wetland restoration from a governance perspective.
Carbon sequestration and emission in wetlands are modelled using various techniques such as biogeochemical models, greenhouse gas flux measurements, and remote sensing. These models aim to estimate the amount of carbon stored in wetland soils and vegetation, as well as the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere through processes such as microbial decomposition and plant respiration. By understanding the dynamics of carbon in wetlands, scientists can develop strategies to promote wetland conservation and restoration as a means of mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration. Additionally, the models can help identify the impact of human activities such as drainage and land-use change on wetland carbon sequestration and emissions.