Wetlands are among the UK’s most valuable but often underappreciated ecosystems. They provide a wide range of critical benefits, including flood mitigation, water resilience, water purification, and biodiversity enhancement. Beyond their environmental importance, wetlands also contribute positively to mental health and local economies by creating natural spaces for recreation and education.
The Wetlands & Wildlife Trust (WWT) has identified the opportunity to restore or create up to 100,000 hectares of wetlands by 2050. Achieving this ambitious target could have profound benefits in helping the UK meet climate goals, protect wildlife habitats, and enhance community resilience to environmental challenges.
To support these efforts, WWT has developed innovative interactive Wetland Potential Maps. These data-driven tools highlight the most suitable locations for wetland restoration, enabling more strategic and impactful conservation planning. By unlocking detailed insights, these maps empower landowners, planners, and conservationists to make informed decisions that maximise ecological and social benefits.
Wetlands are a key part of nature-based solutions that address climate change, biodiversity loss and nutrient neutrality issues. We are excited to contribute to their protection and restoration through our work.
Discover more about the vital role of wetlands and how data is helping to unlock their potential in the full article by WWT:
Unlocking the value of wetlands with data.
