Wetlands are vital ecosystems that support biodiversity, improve water quality, and protect communities from the impacts of climate change. At the University of Sheffield, our researchers are dedicated to understanding, restoring, and safeguarding these critical environments. Spanning disciplines from the arts and humanities to engineering and environmental science, our work reflects the multifaceted importance of wetlands and their role in shaping both our natural world and cultural heritage.
In celebration of World Wetlands Day, we are spotlighting some of our recent research and restoration initiatives that showcase the importance of preserving and revitalising these vital ecosystems. From restoring ancient fenlands in Lincolnshire to understanding the potential role of constructed wetlands in treating pollution, our researchers are at the forefront of efforts to protect wetlands for future generations.
Why are wetlands so important?
- Biodiversity: Wetlands are one of the world’s most biodiverse habitats - 40% of the worlds plants and animals depend on wetlands.
- Carbon storage: Wetlands are one of the most effective carbon sinks on the planet!
- Disaster risk reduction: Mangroves and salt marshes help shield 60% of the world’s population that live along our coasts from coastal flooding.
- Water: Wetlands not only hold most of our available fresh water, they also improve its quality by naturally filtering pollutants.
However, invasive species, pollution, unsustainable development and climate change are taking their toll on wetlands, with 30% disappearing since 1970 and 25% of wetland species facing extinction.
Future fens: Using palaeoecology to inform restoration and conservation of the Lincolnshire Fenlands
The Fenlands are a low-lying area on the east coast of England, famed for having rich, fertile agricultural land. The fringes of saltmarsh on the coast, and pockets of riverside reedswamp, are now all that remain of what was once a vast, environmentally diverse and species rich wetland landscape covering many miles. Large-scale drainage has allowed agriculture to expand in the region, but with a huge cost to biodiversity. Farming is also at risk, as the formally extensive peat soils continue to desiccate and erode as a result of the reduced water levels.
This research project, carried out by Sally Derrett, a PhD student from the School of History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities, uses palaeoenvironmental analysis (including pollen and foraminifera) of sediment cores taken from across the Lincolnshire Fenlands. The overall aim is to better understand how the area has changed throughout the past 10,000 years as a result of sea-level changes, climate and the changing human relationship with the landscape. The results show that the Fenlands were a dynamic environment, with periods of wetland and saltmarsh expansion and retraction throughout time. As a result the region was extremely environmentally diverse, attracting human populations for thousands of years to the vast ecosystem services on offer, including the lush meadowlands and large wildfowl populations.
The Fenland region faces challenges associated with climate change and accelerated sea- level rise. One course of action may be to allow saltmarsh and reedswamp to expand in coastal and riverine regions, allowing the land to absorb flood water and dissipate storm impacts in the winter months, whilst providing fertile grazing lands in the summer. Expansion of these areas would also benefit wildfowl populations and bring further wildlife tourism to the area.
Find out more about Sally's research
Wetland restoration at Fishlake
This restoration project hopes to recreate a 60 hectare wetland adjacent to the River Don which will function as wildlife habitat and a floodwater storage area. This will change the hydrological regime of the area and reduce flooding to nearby urban areas, as well as providing opportunities for recreation.
Dan Richards, a Sheffield University PhD student from the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, is working on this project in partnership with the Environment Agency. This research will investigate the practice of floodplain habitat restoration, focusing on the resulting ecosystem services and the benefits brought to a wide range of people and biodiversity.
Constructed wetlands for the treatment of pollution
Jiaqi Liu, a Research Student in the School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, carried out a research project focused on wetlands and pollution. Constructed wetlands have been identified as a technique for removing pollutants from surface run-off, thus reducing the pollution problem in aquatic ecosystems. Plant species, substrate composition, structure and microbial of constructed wetlands can influence pollutants removal effectiveness. The study focuses on the wetland located in Dronfield, England. Through field work and laboratory work, the impact of constructed wetlands on pollutant removal efficiency will be evaluated.
Find out more about Jiaqi's research
UI Associate wins half a million-pound grant for developing wetland stewardship programme
A global consortium, led by Tanzil Shafique, Lecturer of Urban Design at Sheffield School of Architecture have won a £499,995 research-to-action grant for "Climate impacted dwellers-led agroecological stewardship for restoring wetlands" project.
The grant is by Reversing Environmental Degradation in Africa and Asia (REDAA), administered by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) in London and funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. It funds an urban wetland stewardship program in Dhaka, Bangladesh, working with climate-impacted dwellers.