As part of the Wetland4Change project, a field campaign was conducted last week in the Camargue pilot site to improve the assessment of wetlands’ capacity to sequester carbon and contribute to climate change mitigation. This work focuses in particular on better quantifying both carbon stocks and greenhouse gas fluxes, which are key to understanding the role of wetlands as nature-based solutions.
This campaign brought together researchers from our project partners the Tour du Valat and the University of Valencia, fostering strong scientific exchange. The Valencia team presented its methodology for measuring carbon fluxes, including field-based approaches, helping to harmonise protocols and strengthen the robustness and comparability of ongoing assessments across sites.
[Learn more on these methodologies through our interview with Dr. Carlos Rochera | University of Valencia]
Beyond scientific collaboration, the campaign also strengthened connections with wetland managers. Representatives from the SNPN joined the team for a field day, providing a valuable opportunity to exchange on how carbon flux measurements are implemented in practice and how such data can support management and decision-making.
This initiative builds on previous work carried out in the Camargue and across the Mediterranean. By capitalising on existing datasets, long-term monitoring efforts and accumulated expertise, it contributes to consolidating a stronger scientific basis for assessing wetland ecosystem services related to climate regulation. In the near future, this will enable the team to refine estimates of carbon stocks and greenhouse gas fluxes in wetlands of the Camargue, improving both accuracy and consistency.
The next steps will focus on analysing the collected data and continuing discussions around the results, with the aim of sharing outcomes during the Wetland4Change Living Lab in June in the Camargue, where scientists, practitioners and stakeholders will further exchange on methods, results and implications for wetland management.
