Publication Details |
| Category | Text Publication |
| Reference Category | Journals |
| DOI | 10.3897/natureconservation.62.163636 |
Licence  |
|
| Title (Primary) | European riverine and coastal wetlands under pressure: biodiversity and climate change |
| Author | Kaden, U.S.
; Schmid, S.; Vieweg, M.
; Scholz, M.
; Dufour, S. |
| Source Titel | Nature Conservation-Bulgaria |
| Year | 2026 |
| Department | NSF |
| Issue | 62 |
| Page From | 13 |
| Page To | 45 |
| Language | englisch |
| Topic | T5 Future Landscapes |
| Keywords | biodiversity loss; climate change impacts; coasts; ecosystem services; European wetlands; floodplains; nature-based solutions; wetland restoration |
| Abstract | Although European coastal and riverine wetlands occupy a small share of the European land area, these ecosystems host remarkable biodiversity and provide a wide range of ecosystem services fundamental for human well-being, including clean water, recreation, food provision and climate regulation. Synthesising current knowledge across biogeographic regions, this review shows that only 12% of EU riverine and coastal wetland habitat types are in favourable condition, while the majority continue to deteriorate, mirrored by substantial declines in many wetland-dependent species. Climate-related impacts vary strongly across Europe and interact with existing human pressures such as land-use change, hydromorphological alteration, hydropower, coastal engineering and pollution, accelerating habitat and species loss and reducing the resilience of wetlands to climate change impacts. The paper calls for a rethinking of coastal and riverine wetlands as multifunctional landscapes and stresses the need for coordinated, cross-sectoral policy approaches. These wetlands are positioned not only as vulnerable systems but as pivotal Nature-based Solutions for achieving climate resilience and halting biodiversity loss, while remaining essential resources for human life support. |
| Kaden, U.S., Schmid, S., Vieweg, M., Scholz, M., Dufour, S. (2026): European riverine and coastal wetlands under pressure: biodiversity and climate change Nat. Conserv. (62), 13 - 45 10.3897/natureconservation.62.163636 |
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