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Field Collection and Laboratory Maintenance of Canopy-Forming Giant Kelp to Facilitate Restoration
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Prioritizing tidal marsh restoration in grazing lands
Rocio Araya-Lopez1, Hugh P Possignham2, Melissa Wartman3
1Deakin Marine Research and Innovation Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood Campus, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia.
Journal of Environmental Management
|March 14, 2025
Summary
Fencing tidal marshes can restore ecosystem services, but site selection is key. Prioritizing areas for restoration and adaptation to sea-level rise is crucial for effective conservation and management.
Area of Science:
- Coastal ecology
- Ecosystem services assessment
- Spatial planning
Background:
- Intensive grazing has degraded tidal marshes globally, impacting ecosystem functions and services.
- Fencing offers a cost-effective method for tidal marsh restoration and protecting inland migration corridors against sea-level rise.
- Limited funding and poor site selection impede large-scale restoration efforts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify priority areas for tidal marsh restoration and creation using Marxan, a decision support tool.
- To evaluate scenarios for recovering ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration, fisheries enhancement, and coastal hazard mitigation.
- To assess the impact of different target levels and management costs on restoration site selection.
Main Methods:
- Application of the Marxan decision support tool for spatial prioritization.
- Testing of multiple scenarios for ecosystem service recovery targets (30% total, 30% individual).
- Sensitivity analysis by varying recovery targets (10%, 20%) to assess site selection robustness.
Main Results:
- Fencing 26% of collapsed marsh and 22% of future inundated areas can restore ~30% of total ecosystem services.
- High-priority restoration sites were concentrated in West Gippsland (43%) and Melbourne Water (36%) regions.
- Spatial priorities varied significantly based on ecosystem services targeted and recovery levels, revealing trade-offs.
Conclusions:
- Strategic fencing and site selection are vital for maximizing ecosystem service recovery in tidal marshes.
- Planners must carefully consider trade-offs between different ecosystem services when prioritizing restoration.
- Further research should refine ecosystem service quantification, especially for coastal hazard mitigation, and include site condition and opportunity costs.
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