Wetland Restoration and Functional Improvement

Wetlands are vital natural ecosystems that play critical roles in water conservation, water quality purification, climate regulation, carbon sequestration and enhancement, and biodiversity preservation. Among the 169 specific goals outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), over 70 are directly or indirectly related to wetlands, underscoring their significance in maintaining global biodiversity and promoting sustainable development. However, due to the combined impacts of climate change and human activities, wetland ecosystems have experienced substantial degradation. Since 1970, the global extent of wetlands has declined by approximately 22%, a rate that significantly exceeds the degradation and loss observed in other terrestrial ecosystems.

This Research Topic aims to investigate the underlying mechanisms driving the degradation of key wetland functions and to elucidate the interactions among multiple environmental elements, as well as the interconnected regulatory processes within wetland systems. The development and application of innovative, environmentally sustainable technologies for the effective restoration of degraded wetlands can enhance plant diversity, mitigate soil salinization, address water pollution, and improve habitat quality for waterfowl.

Through multi-scale temporal and spatial observations, researchers can explore the multifunctional characteristics of wetlands and their dynamic feedback responses to climate change and anthropogenic pressures. These insights will support the advancement of nature-based solutions for wetland restoration.

We welcome contributions that address, but are not limited to, the following themes:

1. Hydrological and ecological evolution processes and coupling mechanisms in wet-lands under changing environmental conditions

2. Key driving forces behind wetland degradation

3. Innovative technologies and methodologies for wetland restoration

4. Assessment of the potential to enhance ecological functions of wetlands

5. Optimization of plant community configurations to improve multifunctional syner-gies

6. Techniques and applications for strengthening wetland habitat functions

7. Restoration of food sources for waterfowl

8. Evaluation of wetland ecosystem stability

9. Nature-based strategies for wetland restoration

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Wetland, restoration, function, plant diversity, habitat, waterfowl, soil improvement, synthetical management

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.