Optimizing future wetlands for the provision of multiple ecosystem services

We need to understand how water retention can be maximised without affecting other vital ecosystems, such as water purification. In the project we therefor aim to clarify how hydrological regime and optimized water retention in wetlands may affect nutrient removal, and to give recommendations on wetland design and restoration for multi-functionality in a future climate.

In order to ensure versatile wetland function also under future climate scenarios, the project aims to: 

1. Investigate how wetlands optimized for high water retention function in terms of nutrient removal.
2. Investigate the underlying mechanisms driving both ecosystem services under varying climate scenarios.
3. Give recommendation on wetland designs that optimize both these ecosystem services, water retention and water purification.

By combining analyses of empirical data from large wetlands across geographical regions, experimental wetlands and literature we will be able to develop a best practice guide for wetland design to help prioritize where and how – according to their geographical location – wetlands should be implemented for optimized wetland multifunctionality.

Our proposed research will aid stakeholders to enhance water retention at the same time as water purification. The generated knowledge from the project is relevant to preserving current and future wetland ecosystem services, and thus increases Sweden’s future sustainability and resilience to climate change.