Our research has shown that a single restored saltmarsh in the UK can store as much carbon over four years as more than one million newly planted trees can capture in a decade.  

Saltmarshes are coastal wetlands shaped by the tides. These dynamic habitats create a unique watery mosaic of salt-tolerant plants and shrubs, interwoven with a network of creeks and pools. 

Today, Wednesday 11^th June 2025, marks the first ever World Saltmarsh Day. Led by our partners, WWT, we are raising awareness of the superpowers of these coastal wetlands. 

Saltmarshes play an important role in climate change mitigation and are capable of capturing and storing more carbon than the same sized area of forests on land. These valuable habitats can absorb the energy of the tides – protecting coastlines and manmade sea defences behind them – and provide a haven for wildlife. Saltmarshes are also a beautiful place to relax and lose yourself in the sights and sounds of nature. 

Dr Lucy McMahon, Research Fellow in Coastal Ecology at Manchester Met, said: “Despite the amazing benefits they provide, saltmarshes are largely unknown among the public – many people struggle to even recognise what saltmarsh is”.  

Dr Robert Sparkes, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science added: “We have lost around 50% of saltmarshes in the UK to urban and agricultural developments. We hope World Saltmarsh Day will raise global awareness of these special but underappreciated habitats and inspire action which promotes their restoration and conservation”.  

Find out how, in the fight against climate change, our research has revealed the importance of forgotten natural resources: https://www.mmu.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/story/letting-nature-back  

This is a collection of reports, authored in collaboration with Jacobs and the Environment Agency, in which we present:

1. Sediment accumulation rates at 15 restored saltmarshes in England,
2. Carbon accumulation rates at these 15 sites,
3. Gaps in the scientific knowledge around saltmarsh restoration:
   • Habitat zones
   • Carbon stocks
   • Greenhouse gas fluxes
   • Effects of disturbance and land management
   • Countable carbon