Wetland Restoration and Wildlife Welfare

Wetlands are among the most productive habitats for animal welfare, supporting extraordinary diversity, and their restoration from drained agricultural land can rapidly restore habitat quality for amphibians, birds, and mammals.

Key Facts

Over 35% of global wetlands have been lost since 1970, faster than any other ecosystem type
The UK has lost over 75% of its lowland peat bogs and wet meadows since the 1940s
Wetland restoration on drained farmland can restore invertebrate diversity within 2-5 years
Bitterns, curlews, otters, water voles, and marsh harriers all depend on wetland habitat in the UK
The RSPB and Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust manage extensive wetland restoration reserves
Restored wetlands store carbon, reduce flooding, and improve water quality alongside wildlife welfare benefits

Welfare Considerations

Wetland restoration delivers welfare benefits to individual animals through rapid habitat recovery. Water voles reintroduced to restored wetland systems establish territories and breed successfully within seasons. Otter populations expand into restored river systems with improved prey availability. Waterbirds find nesting habitat, food resources, and shelter restored at landscape scale. The welfare benefits are not only for flagship species: the invertebrate, amphibian, and fish communities that form the base of wetland food webs also benefit from restored conditions. Wetland restoration is among the highest-yield habitat investment for animal welfare per hectare because of the extraordinary productivity and diversity of wetland systems.

What You Can Do

Donate to Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and RSPB wetland restoration programmes
Support agricultural policy reform that rewards wetland creation on farmland
Advocate for drainage ditch blocking and peat bog restoration in upland areas
Engage with local conservation organisations on wetland creation and restoration projects
Raise awareness about wetland loss and the welfare consequences for dependent species