Exaggerating the value of wetlands for natural disaster mitigation is a risky business

Abstract

Wetlands and dis aster management Exaggerating the value of wetlands for natural disaster mitigation is a risky business Evidence shows that wetlands mitigate some natural disasters and lower the risks for people: first, by reducing the immediate physical impacts and second, by helping people survive and recover in the aftermath. Controlled flooding of floodplain wetlands has long been used as a management strategy to protect the city of Lincoln, in the UK. The flood protection role of the That Luang wetland in Vientiane, Laos, has been estimated to be worth US$2.8-million per year. Coastal wetlands have been shown to reduce the damaging effects of hurricanes on coastal communities in the USA. Several global agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction, and the Sustainable Development Goals, recognise the vital role that sustainable management of wetlands can play in mitigating the risks of natural disasters.

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