The Economic Role of Wetlands in Climate Change Mitigation

Authors

  • Becca Porrier Thompson Rivers University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29173/bcelnfe770

Keywords:

wetland ecosystems, carbon sequestration, ecosystem services, climate change mitigation, natural capital valuation, wetland conservation, boreal wetlands, environmental economics

Author Biography

Becca Porrier, Thompson Rivers University

Becca Porrier is a fourth-year undergraduate student in the Natural resource Sciences program at Thompson Rivers University, with a strong interest in species and habitat conservation and management. Her academic interests, stemming from a lifelong passion for the outdoors, include ecosystem rehabilitation and resilience, and the link between climate change and her local environment. Upon completion of the Natural Resource Sciences program, Becca plans to earn her Registered Professional Biologist (RP Bio) designation through the College of Applied Biologists.

References

Anielski, M., & Wilson, S. (2005, November 25). Counting Canada’s natural capital: Assessing the real value of Canada’s boreal ecosystems. Canadian Boreal Initiative and The Pembina Institute. https://www.pembina.org/pub/counting-canadas-natural-capital

Campbell, L. & Rubec, C. D. A. (2003). Wetland stewardship: New directions. Final report of the conference on Canadian Wetlands Stewardship (Report No. 03-3)

Environment and Climate Change Canada. (2015, April 22). Extent of Canada’s wetlands. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/environmental-indicators/extent-wetlands.html.

Environment and Climate Change Canada. (2025). National inventory report 1990–2023: Greenhouse gas sources and sinks in Canada. Government of Canada. canada.ca/ghg-inventory

Government of Canada. (2005). Regulations amending the migratory birds regulations. Canada Gazette, 139(52). https://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection/SP2-1-139-52.pdf

National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE). (2003). The state of the debate on the environment and the economy: Environment and sustainable development indicators for Canada. NRTEE. https://coilink.org/20.500.12592/46tjwb9

Olewiler, N. (2004). The value of natural capital in settled areas of Canada. Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Nature Conservancy of Canada. https://www.cbd.int/financial/values/canada-valuesettled.pdf

Ontario Nature. (n.d.). Wetlands are carbon storage superstars. Ontario Nature. https://ontarionature.org/campaigns/wetlands/wetlands-are-carbon-storage-superstars/.

Parkatti V. -P., Suominen, A., Tahvonen, O., Malo, P. (2024, September). Assessing economic benefits and costs of carbon sinks in boreal rotation forestry. Forest Policy and Economics, 166,103249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103249

Ritchie, H., Roser, M., Rosado, P. (2020). Canada: CO2 country profile. Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/co2/country/canada

Singh, S. G., Das, S. K., Bharti, V. S., Devi, C. B., Nag, S. K., Sharma, P. M., & Debnath, C. (2025). Comparative analysis of carbon sequestration potential in different wetland ecosystems: Insights from phumdi-dominated wetlands of Northeast India. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 197(7), 775. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-025-14203-2

Temmink, R. J. M., et al. (2022). Recovering wetland biogeomorphic feedbacks to restore the world’s biotic carbon hotspots. Science, 376, eabn1479(2022). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abn1479

Watersheds Canada. (2024). Wetlands: How marshes and swamps can save the world. https://watersheds.ca/wetlands-how-marshes-and-swamps-can-save-the-world/

Cover image with title: Perspectives on the economics of Climate Change. Special Issue, March 2026, Online ISSN: 2819-7046. Background image taken by Peter Tsigaris of the University of Auckland campus.

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Published

2026-03-17

How to Cite

Porrier, B. (2026). The Economic Role of Wetlands in Climate Change Mitigation. Future Earth: A Student Journal on Sustainability and Environment. https://doi.org/10.29173/bcelnfe770

Issue

2026: Special Issue: Perspectives on the Economics of Climate Change

Section

Commentaries and Opinions

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Copyright (c) 2026 Future Earth: A Student Journal on Sustainability and Environment

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