The swan sanctuary wetland fighting climate change

The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) is marking 80 years since the founding of its first wetland bird reserve at Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, by calling for one million hectares of wetlands to be restored worldwide. The charity says wetlands can absorb carbon four times faster than trees, while also helping to buffer floods and purify water, making their loss a concern for both wildlife and climate change.

Naturalist Peter Scott established the reserve in 1946 after being drawn to the swans and geese wintering on the River Severn marshes. His conservation work included helping to bring the Hawaiian Nēnē goose back from the brink: after only 24 were known to remain in 1949, the population is now above 3,000. WWT now runs 10 wetland bird reserves across the UK, and says 85% of the world’s wetlands have been lost.