The saltmarsh restoration brings vital environmental benefits
Green Party district councillor Anna Presswell and county councillor Jacqi Hodgson attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the River Dart Saltmarsh Restoration Project on 21 March.
The saltmarsh restoration is a joint project three years in the making. It is funded by the Environment Agency, led by Bioregional Learning Centre, South Devon National Landscape and Dart Harbour, with the support of Devon Wildlife Trust, Duchy of Cornwall, Parklife, Devon Biodiversity Records Centre, 5Rivers and UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology amongst other organisations and landowners.
Saltmarshes are vital coastal ecosystems that support diverse wildlife, protect shorelines from erosion and flooding, filter pollutants, and act as natural carbon sinks, playing a crucial role in climate regulation and coastal stability.
Cllr Presswell said, “It was wonderful to see the collaboration of many organisations contributing both expertise and funding to a hugely worthwhile environmental cause.”
She explained that in the UK, we have only 45,000 hectares of saltmarsh remaining. A particularly impressive feature of saltmarsh is that it captures carbon 40 times faster than woodland.
Cllr Presswell continued, “This is why we need to empower and help these community groups, volunteers, and government organisations to work together; as well as lobby government for increased amount of money towards these schemes.”
