The main partner in the fight against climate change needs our help

Posted on 2 February 2025

Wetland habitats show alarming decline in plant and animal species populations

Why do we mark today's International Wetlands Day? Simply put, wetlands are home to more than 40% of plant and animal species. These centers of biodiversity are the biggest fighters against climate change. For example, peatlands, a type of wetland, make up only three percent of the Earth's surface, but absorb twice as much carbon dioxide as all the forests on the planet combined.

Unfortunately, according to the latest WWF Living Planet Report, there has been an alarming 85% decline in species populations over the last 50 years. By destroying seemingly ordinary swamps or floodplain forests, we are destroying perfect ecosystems that provide us with drinking water, clean air, and a wealth of plant and animal life. Aware of this, in Croatia we are working on restoring a natural channel within that wetland protected area - Kopački Rit Nature Park.

"Through the 'Restoration of the Amazon of Europe' project, we have finalized plans for the restoration of the Nadjhat channel, which connects the Vemeljski Danube with Kopačko Lake, after which the nature park is named. A detailed restoration plan has been developed, all necessary permits have been obtained, and the procurement of necessary equipment for the restoration is underway. The work itself should begin in mid-August," says Marina Petrić from WWF-Adria.

In the Nadjhat channel, crucial for water transfer to the interior of Kopački Rit, accumulated driftwood masses hinder water flow and cause sediment deposition. This presents a major problem during Danube floods as it reduces the possibility of water drainage towards Kopački Rit. This is part of a regional plan within the "Restoration of the Amazon of Europe" project being implemented in Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia, where planting of 30,000 seedlings of black and white poplar, oak, and willow has just begun in the Gornje Podunavlje Special Nature Reserve. Planting floodplain forest will not only improve the services provided by the wetland ecosystem but will also increase carbon dioxide absorption. It's a lesser-known fact that wetlands are, because of this, great "allies" in reducing greenhouse gas effects.

WWF in Bosnia and Herzegovina is working on restoration in Hutovo Blato Nature Park, where we are cleaning channels and dredging Deransko Lake, ensuring the retention of larger amounts of water in the Park. "Through the 'MERLIN' project, we have finalized plans for the restoration of several main channels connecting different parts of Deransko Lake, and we have dredged six hectares of the lake. Underground connections between Deransko and Svitavsko Lakes, which make up Hutovo Blato, have been investigated, and underground connections between the lakes and surrounding karst fields and rivers have been confirmed. The works have been completed, and we only have the presentation of results and monitoring of the conducted works left," says Matea Jarak from WWF-Adria.

The biggest pressure on Hutovo Blato is the Čapljina hydroelectric power plant, due to whose presence insufficient water reaches Deransko Lake. Also, due to natural overgrowth and silt deposition in the lake, the water level is decreasing, which is accelerated by evaporation due to high temperatures. To preserve this natural carbon storage, which according to research by the Faculty of Science, University of Sarajevo, can store more carbon than all forests in BiH combined, it is necessary to protect and maintain the connections through which water reaches the wetland.

With quality protection and management of wetlands, we are presented with numerous socio-economic opportunities for development. One such possibility is the integration of wetlands into urban planning instead of their destruction in favor of infrastructure. By applying these practices, we not only raise the quality of water in urban areas but also reduce the consequences of floods. This involves including wetland habitats in urban development plans, protecting existing wetland habitats from human intervention, and restoring those that have been degraded. Good examples of such practices are New York and Singapore, which have successfully integrated wetlands into their urban landscapes, showing how development and conservation can coexist.

The "Restoration of the Amazon of Europe" project is supported by the Endangered Landscapes and Seascapes Programme, managed by the Cambridge Conservation Initiative in partnership with Arcadia, a charitable fund of Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwin. The European Amazon is the name of the five-country Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere Reserve, which UNESCO declared its heritage in September 2021.

Vlažno stanište Amazon Evrope

Hutovo blato, vizual

The main partner in the fight against climate change needs our help

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