A research programme to develop innovative, science-backed solutions to support community-led restoration of coastal wetlands across Aotearoa New Zealand for benefits to nature, climate and people.
Restore the Marshes
Restore the Marshes
A research programme to develop innovative, science-backed solutions to support community-led restoration of coastal wetlands across Aotearoa New Zealand for benefits to nature, climate and people.
About the project
Coastal wetlands, such as salt marshes, are among the world’s most valuable ecosystems. They store carbon, support biodiversity including endangered birds, filter water, and protect coastlines and communities from flooding and erosion. Yet around 90% of Aotearoa New Zealand’s wetlands have been lost or degraded, and climate change is intensifying pressures on those that remain.
Effective, scalable restoration methods are urgently needed to provide additional tools beyond the current approach, especially those that can accelerate recovery after climate‑driven disturbances such as storms.
Community-led restoration of coastal wetlands
The ‘Restore the Marshes’ programme aims to develop innovative, science-backed methods to support community-led restoration of coastal wetlands across Aotearoa New Zealand. The overarching vision is for saltmarshes to be restored at large scales across the country for benefits to nature, climate and people.
We plan to develop the innovative restoration techniques utilising Cawthron’s extensive knowledge of coastal and restoration ecology and in collaboration with iwi and community groups to ensure they are practical, scalable, and suited to real-world restoration, and test them through controlled aquaria and field experiments. The Nelson/Tasman region—with its diverse mix of healthy and degraded estuarine habitats—provides an ideal testing ground.
A restoration blueprint document will be produced, offering clear, step-by-step guidance for community-led implementation. This will help ensure that communities across Aotearoa New Zealand can adopt effective, low-cost, and scalable methods to restore coastal wetlands, strengthen climate resilience, and support the long-term recovery of these vital ecosystems.
Project Team Leader
Support our saltmarsh research.
Your support advances saltmarsh restoration for nature, climate and people. Please donate via our website or get in touch with Dr Anna Berthelsen for more information.
