Setting up instrumentation to measure the build-up of tidal wetland sediments. Image credit: Macquarie University
Tidal wetlands are low‑lying areas along our coasts and estuaries that flood and drain with the tides. In Australia, they include mangrove swamps and saltmarshes.
Tidal wetlands provide many important benefits. They:
filter runoff and improve water quality
reduce the impact of floods and storms by slowing water movement
provide habitat for fish and other marine life.
Mangroves and saltmarsh can adapt to gradual sea level rise. They do this by trapping sediment and building up soil. This allows them to rise over time. But climate change means that sea levels are now rising faster. This makes it harder for some wetlands to keep up.
We need to understand which tidal wetlands can keep up with rising sea levels, and those that are at risk of permanent flooding or being lost. This will help us protect those that are most vulnerable.
Case study
Researchers from the Marine and Coastal Hub have created OzSET. This national database shows how the height of tidal wetlands is changing compared to local sea level rise.
Over the past 25 years, state, territory, and local governments have set up monitoring stations across Australia. These measure changes in sediment levels. Comparing data from these stations has been challenging because it is collected in different ways and is not easily accessed.
OzSET brings the data together data in a standard format that is quality checked. It is also publicly available.
OzSET is now a key resource for researchers and land managers. It supports clear, evidence‑based decisions to protect Australia’s tidal wetlands.
