Freshwater wetlands conservation: An assessment protocol for coastal restoration in the context of climate change

Abstract

Salinization and land use changes (LUC) threat the ecological functioning of coastal wetlands, which are particularly vulnerable to climate change. The objective of this study was to develop a rapid identification and assessment protocol of threatened wetlands that have the potential for conservation and restoration. The selection of wetlands was based on a socioecological classification, including water physicochemical variables, land use estimation, land tenure, and management practices. The selected wetlands were then classified into three categories: (a) freshwater wetlands exposed to saline intrusion, (b) wetlands in agricultural areas, and (c) wetland as biological corridors. From the 18 wetlands visited, 11 were classified as wetlands in agricultural areas that can also act as corridors, and the remaining seven were wetlands exposed to salinization. Our proposal is a practical instrument for identifying potential wetland restoration sites in an area where biological, hydrological, and water quality data was limited.