World Wetlands Day is today

This viddeo says about itself:

Coastal changes in a mangrove, Puerto Rico

11 February 2013

A British Geological Survey climate change project looking at the geochemistry and palynology of the ‘carbon-rich’ sediments deposited by the flora and fauna of the mangrove system at Sebana Seca, on the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico.

There are two elements of the project that are explained below:

1) Biogeochemical cycles: Mangrove peats are one of the main carbon pools in the terrestrial-coastal system. Stabilisation of mangrove peats is desirable as it locks organic carbon in and reduces mineralisation which contributes to atmospheric CO2. However, the storage and accumulation of mangrove peat carbon depends on a number of factors including post burial alteration by insects and micro-organisms (bacteria and fungi). This project aims to understand the effects of termites on mangrove organic matter in mangroves.

2) Sea level change: The organic geochemistry of the peat cores tells us about past sea level rise. In modern mangroves, different plants with different chemistries occur at distinct elevation ranges within the intertidal zone, this chemical proxy based approach can then be applied to sediment cores and thus provide a geological context to frame recent relative sea level rise. This project therefore extends our knowledge of past sea level rise from less than 100 years (satellites and tide gauges) to greater than 5000 years.

From BirdLife:

Billion people living off wetlands

By Adrian Long, Tue, 02/02/2016 – 00:01

Today is a day to celebrate wetlands! February 2 is World Wetlands Day, the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands (the so-called Ramsar Convention). This year the focus is on Wetlands for our future: sustainable livelihoods.

With more than a billion people making a living from wetlands, they provide vital benefits including food, fibre, flood protection, water purification and supply.

Sustainability is a huge theme central to the future of biodiversity and human wellbeing. We cannot continue to treat the loss of biodiversity as an issue separate from the core concerns of society. Reducing poverty and improving the health, wealth and security of present and future generations will be more likely to happen if we give biodiversity and ecosystem services the priority they deserve.

These are big challenges, and there are no simple solutions.

The BirdLife International Partnership has an impressive track record of working locally, nationally and globally to create the environmental conditions for sustainable development, including many wetlands. Working with communities, government, and across sectors in some of the world’s biologically most important wetlands, BirdLife Partners are demonstrating that it is possible to bring about the changes required for living sustainably on our planet Earth.

Wetlands are diverse habitats that are extremely important for biodiversity; at least 12% of all Globally Threatened Birds depend on wetlands. Wetlands make up a high percentage of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas mainly due to their importance for large congregations of waterbirds.

About half of the 422 IBAs in Danger identified by BirdLife Partners are inland and coastal wetlands, where urgent actions are needed to stop their loss and degradation.

The Ramsar Convention has become one of the most important global mechanisms for BirdLife Partners in their national work with many Partners having contributed to the designation of IBAs as “Wetlands of International Importance” in their countries.

On BirdLife’s datazone you can access case studies on biodiversity conservation and sustainability from the links listed below.

Wetland ecosystem services, livelihoods and human wellbeing

The sustainable use of wetland resources can benefit both wildlife and local communities

‘Nature-friendly’ fish-farming techniques in Hungary bring economic benefits

Community led wetland restoration in Nigeria

Managing coastal wetlands for people and biodiversity in the Humber estuary, UK

Safeguarding wetland ecosystems is vital for local communities

Developing sustainable livelihood options will help communities adapt to climate change

Mangrove ecosystems provide numerous benefits including protection against sea level rise

Turning invasive plants into biofuels and fertiliser benefits both biodiversity and local livelihood

The Berga Floodplain Site Support Group – a local initiative for a globally important site

Traditional pastoralism is critical to the conservation of some of Asia’s most threatened birds

BirdLife’s Rwandan Partner (ACNR) is helping a community to manage wetland resources sustainably

Nature Uganda is empowering communities to manage natural resources and restore ecosystem services

Local self-regulation can be more effective at ensuring sustainable resource use than outright ban

Government and local community are working together to restore life to the mangroves of Puerto Rico