Code
N02
Sector
Hydro Morphology
Other sector(s)
Agriculture
Urban
Forest
The complete description of the NWRM
Summary

According to the Convention on Wetlands (1971), a wetland is an area of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres. It provides water retention, biodiversity enhancement or water quality improvement.

 

Wetland restoration and management can involve: technical, spatially large-scale measures (including the installation of ditches for rewetting or the cutback of dykes to enable flooding); technical small-scale measures such as clearing trees; changes in land-use and agricultural measures, such as adapting cultivation practices in wetland areas. They can improve the hydrological regime of degraded wetlands and generally enhance habitat quality. Creating artificial or constructed wetlands in urban areas can also contribute to flood attenuation, water quality improvement and habitat and landscape enhancement.

Illustration(s)

 

Wetland in a forest

Source: Gebhard Schueler’s presentation, NWRM Workshop 1

Possible benefits with level
Benefits Level
BP1 - Store runoff
High
BP2 - Slow runoff
High
BP3 - Store river water
Medium
BP4 - Slow river water
Medium
BP6 - Increase infiltration and/or groundwater recharge
Medium
BP7 - Increase soil water retention
Medium
BP9 - Intercept pollution pathways
Medium
BP10 - Reduce erosion and/or sediment delivery
Low
BP11 - Improve soils
Low
BP12 - Create aquatic habitat
High
BP13 - Create riparian habitat
High
BP14 - Create terrestrial habitats
Low
BP17 - Absorb and/or retain CO2
High
PO1 - Improving status of biology quality elements
High
PO2 - Improving status of physico-chemical quality elements
Medium
PO3 - Improving status of hydromorphology quality elements
Low
PO5 - Improving quantitative status
Medium
PO7 - Prevent surface water status deterioration
Medium
PO8 - Prevent groundwater status deterioration
Medium
PO9 - Take adequate and co-ordinated measures to reduce flood risks
Medium
PO10 - Protection of important habitats
High
PO11 - Better protection for ecosystems and more use of Green Infrastructure
High
PO12 - More sustainable agriculture and forestry
Low
PO13 - Better management of fish stocks
High
PO14 - Prevention of biodiversity loss
High
ES1 - Water storage
Medium
ES2 - Fish stocks and recruiting
High
ES3 - Natural biomass production
Medium
ES4 - Biodiversity preservation
High
ES5 - Climate change adaptation and mitigation
Medium
ES6 - Groundwater/aquifer recharge
Medium
ES7 - Flood risk reduction
Medium
ES8 - Erosion/sediment control
Low
ES9 - Filtration of pollutants
Medium
ES10 - Recreational opportunities
Medium
ES11 - Aesthetic/cultural value
Medium
Case study(ies)

Case studies per NWRM