Cost-effectiveness of maintaining and restoring wetlands as an adaptation measure against climate change
Reefs, mangrove forests and inland wetlands in arid regions can play a very cost-effective role in attenuating the impacts of extreme weather events such as the impacts of hurricanes and cyclones, extremes in precipitation and increases in evaporation due to higher temperatures. Inland wetlands can reduce extremes in runoff from of rivers. This conclusion is based on the lessons of a range of field projects conducted by the global NGO Wetlands International, combined with several scientific studies. Efforts to provide the same protection via embankments, dams or breakwaters appear to be much more expensive compared to these wetlands; especially if the additional wetland benefits such as fisheries are taken into account. Calculating all costs and benefits of hard engineering infrastructures compared to wetlands rarely takes place, unfortunately.