Coastal wetlands are declining due to human activities and rising sea levels. However, there is growing interest in restoring these habitats to protect coastlines, preserve biodiversity, mitigate climate change and provide ecosystem services. Evaluating the outcomes of restoration efforts is thus crucial for its success. Restoring fragile wetlands is challenging due to the variability of ecogeomorphic feedback mechanisms, needing large-scale efforts and considerable financial support. Incorporating facilitative interactions may enhance small-scale restoration, reducing pressure on donor sites and overall costs.
In Ria Formosa coastal lagoon (South of Portugal), we transplanted two salt marsh pioneer species, Spartina maritima and Sarcocornia perennis, from a natural salt marsh to a rewilded marsh. Biodegradable 3D BESE-elements® installed aided sedimentation and plants natural recovery. Ecological, sediment, and hydrodynamic data were collected during the experiment. Results show that although vegetation shoot density decreased, plants are establishing itself in the rewilded salt marsh and showing signs of growth and adaptation. This study reveals compelling evidence supporting the efficacy of the proposed transplanting technique, showcasing its capacity to yield favorable outcomes. These findings suggest the feasibility of applying this transplanting approach to similar rewilded wetland ecosystems, thereby facilitating salt marsh vegetation expansion in those environments.
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