The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust has launched their Wetland Potential Maps, highlighting the significant economic benefits wetlands can offer to communities, investors, and partners. These maps compile national data from sources like flood risk areas, sewage dumping sites, and regions facing economic deprivation. They illustrate how wetland creation and restoration can drive wide-ranging positive impacts.

WWT estimates that spending just under £3 billion on creating and restoring wetlands around the UK in the next 27 years could yield at least £11 billion in benefits for society and the environment, new research has revealed.

Analysis shows that spending £109m annually over the next 27 years on new or restored wetlands, like re-wiggled rivers or re-established saltmarshes, could reap serious rewards.

Looking at where wetlands would provide the most value to people and nature, WWT has mapped out 100,000 hectares of “wetland potential” around the UK, slightly larger than the total area of Dartmoor National Park.

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