Have you ever wondered about the significance of areas that retain water seasonally or year-round? Many people see them as ordinary water sources, some as barren lands, and others as developed tourist destinations. In reality, these areas are wetlands, which play a crucial role in mitigating the impacts of climate change in ways we might not expect.
 
What Are Wetlands?
 
Wetlands are ecosystems where water is present either temporarily or permanently. They can be natural water bodies such as swamps, marshes, rivers, canals, estuaries, or lakes, as well as human-made areas like reservoirs. These wetlands may contain still or flowing water and can be freshwater, brackish, or saline. Some even include coastal and marine areas where the water level does not drop below six meters at low tide.
 
The classification of wetlands in Thailand based on their level of importance includes locally significant wetlands, nationally significant wetlands, internationally significant wetlands, and Ramsar Sites, which are designated under the Ramsar Convention. Currently, there are 15 Ramsar Sites in Thailand, such as the Nong Bong Khai Non-Hunting Area in Chiang Rai, Ang Thong National Marine Park in Surat Thani, and To Daeng Peat Swamp Forest in Narathiwat etc.

The Role of Wetlands
 
Wetlands play a more significant role than many realize. They act as natural water reservoirs and excellent flood protection systems, functioning like giant sponges that absorb rainwater and runoff, reducing flood risks. Coastal wetlands, such as mangrove forests, serve as natural barriers against coastal erosion and help maintain groundwater balance.
 
Additionally, wetlands support high biodiversity. They are home to various plant species such as water lilies, lotuses, sedges, bulrushes, and freshwater algae. Some wetlands are habitats for endemic species like Mahidol goby fish, Kanchanaburi loach, giant catfish, Ang Thong frog, and the Asiatic softshell turtle. They also provide habitats for many waterbirds and house economically valuable plant and animal species.
 
A study conducted by the Thailand Environment Institute (TEI) in 2021 assessed the direct economic benefits of the Kuan Kreng peat swamp in Nakhon Si Thammarat. It found that many households in the surrounding area rely on wetland resources for their livelihoods, earning income from harvesting and weaving bulrush, fishing, collecting wild honey, and using water for domestic and agricultural purposes, livestock grazing, and tourism.
 

Wetlands and Climate Change
 
Wetlands are vital in helping the world adapt to climate change, both in terms of climate mitigation and climate adaptation:
·Climate Mitigation: Wetlands absorb and store carbon. Mangrove forests, swamps, and peatlands are particularly effective carbon sinks, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. They also mitigate flood severity by storing excess water, reducing flood impacts, and maintaining water quality by filtering pollutants from human activities and environmental changes.
·Climate Adaptation: Wetlands help prevent coastal erosion. Mangrove forests and coral reefs act as natural barriers, reducing wave energy and protecting shorelines from erosion. They also enhance food and water security by providing essential resources for communities, particularly during droughts, and serve as habitats for species that sustain ecosystem balance amid changing climate conditions.
 
Research indicates that global wetlands can store significant amounts of carbon. Mangrove forests, due to their diverse plant species, absorb carbon dioxide 55 times faster than tropical rainforests, while peatlands store up to 10 times more carbon than regular forests. Although wetlands emit methane, their overall carbon sequestration benefits outweigh methane emissions.
 

Many studies suggest that wetland restoration is a cost-effective and highly viable solution for reducing atmospheric carbon.
 
However, wetlands are not immune to climate change. Rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall patterns disrupt wetland ecosystems. Water levels may rise permanently in some areas, leading to prolonged flooding, while other wetlands may dry out, making it difficult for ecosystems to survive. Certain species may go extinct or migrate elsewhere, and temperature fluctuations and water level changes may encourage invasive species to outcompete native ones.
 
How Can We Protect and Reduce Threats to Wetlands?
 
Besides climate change, wetlands face threats from urban expansion, industrialization, and agriculture, which alter their landscape. Pollution from household waste, industrial discharge, and agricultural chemicals further degrades wetland quality, affecting water resources, vegetation, and aquatic life.
 
A survey of wetlands in Chiang Rai and Surat Thani under the URBAN project, conducted by the Thailand Environment Institute (TEI) in collaboration with IUCN and partner organizations, found that wetland areas are declining. The causes of this decline align with findings from the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) in 2019, which identified major threats to wetlands as infrastructure and public utility development, agricultural expansion, and construction. Additionally, the spread of invasive species and changes in water levels have further impacted the natural capacity of wetlands to absorb water and protect urban areas from increasingly severe climate crises.