Sandy Point wetland revegetation

 

Coastal wetlands, which include seagrass meadows, mangrove forests, saltmarshes and supratidal forests, are incredibly valuable for human and ecosystem health. 

When these habitats are lost, it can be difficult for vegetation to return, because the environmental conditions of the area may have changed and are no longer suitable for new plants to grow. To facilitate the return of coastal wetland species, sometimes a more active approach to restoration is needed.

The Regenerating Our Coast program with our community partners is trialling one such active restoration method. We are using biodegradable structures made of potato starch to help stabilise the soil and provide a sturdy foundation for plants to establish. We hope to see the wetland plant seeds and seedlings grow and flourish over time, while the structures will degrade into organic components so that they do not remain in the environment when they are no longer needed.

At Sandy Point, we have planted the threatened grey mangrove, Avicennia marina, within and without the structures to test the efficacy of our method. We also planted mangrove seedlings in single and clustered formations to see if this affects survival.

Ultimately restoration coastal wetlands will enhance the vital services they provide, including supporting biodiversity, filtering pollutants, sequestering and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide (called Blue Carbon) and protecting our coastlines from erosion and storms.