Wetlands and Climate Change Resilience, an Enhancing Ecosystem Services for a Sustainable Future: A Review

Abstract

Wetlands are crucial in enhancing climate change resilience due to their unique ecological functions and services. These unique networks are vital in carbon sinks in their soils, plants, and peat layers, mitigating climate change by sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Wetlands are susceptible to weather events with increasing temperatures, changed precipitation patterns, and risky weather events that affect their stability and function. The degradation of wetlands due to human activities, such as drainage for agriculture, urbanization, and peat extraction, exacerbates these vulnerabilities. Conversely, the conservation and restoration of wetlands offer significant potential for climate mitigation by enhancing carbon storage and reducing emissions. This review examines the intricate contributions of wetlands to climate adaptation and mitigation, analyzing various studies and models that highlight their importance. Wetlands play a dual role in climate variations as vital ecosystems that can help vulnerable environments that need protection to prevent the release of stored greenhouse gases. They are essential to combat climate change through carbon sequestration. We explore the mechanisms through which wetlands regulate hydrological cycles and carbon sequestration and provide barriers against extreme weather events. Furthermore, the review identifies gaps in current research and suggests future directions for maximizing the persistence potential of wetlands regardless of accelerating climate change. This review paper explores the strength of wetlands, focusing on their ecological importance, impacts of climate change, vital resilience mechanisms, and human adaptation strategies. The paper synthesizes current research findings and provides future research and policy recommendations.