Climate Resilience
Nature-based Solutions to Protect and Restore Wetlands
Municipal Officials & Professionals
Backyard & Neighborhoods
Land Managers or Stewards
Youth, Parents & Teachers
The over 10,000 acres of wetland soils in the five project focus communities contain almost 1.7 million metric tons of soil carbon. The saturated soils of wetlands inhibit decomposition and allow extraordinarily high levels of carbon-rich organic matter to accumulate over centuries. As a result, wetland soils account for nearly one-third of the world’s total soil organic carbon pool to 1 meter depth.
In these communities, like most of Massachusetts, humans have converted the majority of pre-colonial wetland acres to other uses. Historically, most of these wetlands were “reclaimed” for agriculture, draining large areas at one time. More recently the majority of wetland losses have occurred from the development of residential and commercial spaces. While the Wetlands Protection Act restricts disturbance and requires replication, whenever an existing wetland is drained or otherwise disturbed, much of this carbon is rapidly lost to the atmosphere.
Wetland replication, which attempts to convert upland soils to hydric conditions, fails at a rate of more than 70%. Replications, even when successful, contribute to increased greenhouse gas emissions for decades to centuries as their soils develop the characteristics of wetlands. Emissions from both disturbance and replication accelerate climate change, and the loss of soil carbon from disturbed wetlands diminishes the unique water storage and filtration capacities of these soils. In this way, draining or degrading wetlands increases flood risk and lowers surface water quality, both of which threaten soil health through erosion and contamination.
However, protecting and restoring wetland ecosystems can have an outsized positive impact on soil health and climate resilience, locally and globally.
Nature-based Solution Idea 1:
Protect Existing Wetlands
- Update municipal bylaws and regulations to provide increased wetland protection
- Educate local landowners about the value of wetland conservation
Nature-based Solution Idea 2:
Restore Wetland Hydrology to Historically Drained Soil
- Restore wetlands, re-wetting
- Educate local landowners about the value of restoration and potential funding opportunities
Tips and Resources to Protect and Restore Wetlands
Idea 1: Protect Existing Wetlands
Learn More
One step in protecting wetlands from development is to update your municipalities’ Wetland Protection Bylaw to directly address soils and increase buffers. See the MA Association of Conservation Commission’s newly revised model bylaw. Additionally, a Transfer of Development Rights Bylaw and Creative Development Bylaw could reduce wetland soils conversions by allowing for more density. Draft bylaws can be viewed Appendix 1 of the Nashua River Watershed-wide Healthy Soils Report (pages 45 through 87).
Idea 2: Restore Wetland Hydrology to Historically Drained Soil
Learn More
Wetland restoration, also known as re-wetting, has been identified by many bodies, including World Economic Forum and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA), as one of the most effective ways to mitigate climate disruptions and biodiversity collapse. Re-wetting is the practice of restoring wetland hydrology to historically drained soils and managing them for a diversity of native species. Wetland restoration, as compared to replications, has a high success rate for rapidly reestablishing wetland functions, including carbon sequestration.
For general information on permitting, planning, implementing, and maintaining a wetland restoration project, view:
BSC Group Memo on Wetland Management Restoration (PDF)
BSC Group Memo on Wetland or Floodplain Construction-Expansion (PDF)
Conservation and Restoration Funding and Education
Funding for wetland conservation and restoration is available from several sources, depending on property ownership, conservation status, and current land use. For town and regional partnerships, funding may be available through a number of grants offered by The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Massachusetts DEP, and from the MVP Program. Farmers and some other landowners may be eligible for funding through various NRCS programs, including the Conservation Innovation Grant and the Environmental Quality Incentive Program.
In addition to seeking funds for municipal and regional projects, educating farmers, educational institutions, and large commercial site managers about the advantages of wetland conservation and re-wetting should also be a priority for future climate resiliency projects.