Climate Change Research Calls for Urgent Action to Protect Mediterranean Coastal Wetlands

Mediterranean coastal wetlands are vital ecosystems which support biodiversity and provide essential ecosystem services. These crucial habitats are currently under threat due to climate change – particularly rising sea levels.

The research, undertaken by a team of scientists from the University of Lincoln, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Tour du Valat Research Institute, Aix Marseille Université, and Eurecat Technology Centre of Catalonia, assessed critical risks posed to these coastal areas.

The team employed an integrated modelling approach which identified the main drivers of potential changes. Key indicators included future sea-level rise, accumulation of sediment, and coastal management practices, as well as the potential for the inland migration of coastal marshes.

Alarming rates of widespread loss of Mediterranean coastal marshes were also predicted, suggesting losses of between 8% and 92% of the current extent by the year 2100, even with total loss occurring in specific regions, dependent on climate mitigation policies.

Dr Mark Schuerch, Associate Professor in Physical Geography at the University of Lincoln, explained: “This research highlights that upscaling the restoration of Mediterranean coastal marshes is critically important for their future survival and that these measures must be accompanied by effective action to combat the roots causes of climate change.” 

The stark findings underscore an urgent need for the creation of additional inland migration spaces or to drastically increase the supply of sediment to combat this impending crisis, with a potential for losses to be at least halved with the employment of passive or active habitat restoration.

The paper, Large-scale loss of Mediterranean coastal marshes under rising sea levels by 2100, published in Nature journal, Communications Earth & Environment and is available to read online: www.nature.com/articles/s43247-025-02099-2.