Author(s): Filippo Miele; Benjamin Kargere; Meret Aeppli; Sara Bonetti

Linked Author(s):

Keywords: Wetland morphology; Wetland carbon fluxes; Wetlands hydrology

Abstract: Wetlands are among the most productive and ecologically vital ecosystems on the planet, playing a critical role in carbon (C) and water cycling (Griscom et al., 2017; Tiemyer et al., 2021). Their ability to store large amounts of soil organic carbon (SOC) is mainly due to the slow degradation of organic material under waterlogged, oxygen-limited conditions. However, uncontrolled drainage of wetlands, largely caused by human intervention, leads to rapid decomposition of organic matter, with subsequent increase of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to the atmosphere. As a consequence, wet zones may convert from CO2 sinks into CO2 sources.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64697/iahr.proc.ise2026.abs.321

Year: 2026