Unlocking the superpowers of wetlands

The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) has teamed up with Aviva, the savings and insurance business, on a ground-breaking project to restore saltmarshes in the UK – unlocking the superpowers of wetlands.

Aviva, which has committed to invest £100m into nature-based solutions by 2030, has awarded WWT £21 million for the project, making it one of the largest of its kind in the UK.

“This pioneering partnership will enable us to restore and manage coastal saltmarsh at a landscape-scale and fund research into measuring and maximising its benefits,” said WWT.

Saltmarsh, a nature-rich habitat historically in serious decline, is a mix of coastal land and water that helps to combat the causes and effects of climate change. 

“This ground-breaking project will allow us to apply our wide experience of restoring wetlands to create much needed new saltmarsh, and fund research to help us understand how to maximise and replicate its full potential for existing and future generations,” said Sarah Fowler, Chief Executive of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust.

“With the climate and nature crises showing no sign of slowing there has never been a more crucial time for this partnership, which will deliver effective natural solutions to urgent man-made problems.”

The project will run over 17 years, said WWT.