The Ribble estuarine wetlands 

Wetlands play a crucial role in our environment, acting as both carbon sinks and sources. Here’s how climate change impacts wetlands in the UK Wetlands are the most effective carbon sinks on our planet. They store up to 50 times more carbon than rainforests1. However, climate change poses significant threats to their stability. Wetlands will be among the first and hardest hit by climate change effects. The natural fluctuations in water levels, shaped by rainfall patterns, make wetlands unique habitats. However, changing rainfall patterns and extreme events due to climate change disrupt these ecosystems.  Even a few degrees of temperature change can be catastrophic for wetland ecosystems. Increased temperatures lead to evaporation, causing seasonal wetlands to dry out too rapidly, affecting species that depend on them.  Many wetland species are tied to water and cannot easily move with shifting climates. Invasive species, better adapted to new conditions, may spread, exacerbating habitat fragmentation.  intensive farming and the development on wetlands for agriculture contribute to their loss. These activities can turn wetlands from carbon sinks to carbon sources, releasing carbon into the atmosphere. Over the last century, the UK has lost 90% of its wetlands. Draining fens, desiccating peat bogs, and claiming coastal marshes have transformed the landscape and made the country more vulnerable to extreme conditions