Speed Presentation 2024 Australian Marine Sciences Association Annual Meeting combined with NZMSS

Identification of Coastal Wetland Restoration Opportunities in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (#338)

Maddison E Brown 1 , Renee Rossini 1 , Valerie Hagger 1
  1. University of QLD, West End, QUEENSLAND, Australia

Research partnered with The University of Queensland and the Noosa Council identifies blue carbon restoration opportunities within Noosa, a recognised UNESCO Biosphere Reserve for the provision of additional co-benefits. Coastal wetland restoration, as a nature-based solution to climate change, is gaining interest in addressing declining water quality, fish habitat degradation, coastal erosion, and increased flooding risks. This study locates land to restore mangroves, saltmarsh, and supratidal forests within the tidal estuary of Noosa River, under sea level rise scenarios. Sites were evaluated for potential additional co-benefits from restoration, including biodiversity, coastal protection, fish habitat, and water quality. Restorable land includes public and private land uses due to limitations in land available within an urban landscape that falls under the current and future tide marks. This study estimates the potential carbon abatement of restorable land, accounting for baseline emissions under current land uses and carbon removals from restored vegetation using the Australian Tidal Introduction for blue carbon method within the Australian carbon market. Noosa LGA is interested in restoring coastal wetlands to align with their Environment Strategy 2019 targets and contribute to Noosa Council’s Net Zero by 2026 target.