Arctic wetlands: A Framework for Mapping and Assessing their Climate Change Vulnerabilities

Wetlands provide multiple ecosystem services of local and global importance, but important comprehensive data of factors such as extent and vulnerability of Arctic wetlands essential for planning of current and future risks and related adaptation and mitigation efforts are still lacking, with e.g. no maps of wetlands spanning the entire Arctic area. With a changing climate and the thawing of permafrost, current wetlands are threatened and will, depending on outcome, no longer be able to provide the ecosystem services locals are dependent upon. As a first step in this project, a methodology for mapping of wetland areas will be developed and the first high-resolution map with full coverage of Arctic wetlands created. Further, vulnerabilities of identified Arctic wetlands threatened by increased temperature resulting from climate change is assessed for the years 2050, 2075, and 2100, using datasets on permafrost extent, soil types, and projected mean annual air temperature from the HadGEM2-ES climate model for three change scenarios (RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5). Building on wetland mapping and vulnerability assessment, further work will showcase the current protection status of these wetlands and evaluate risks and opportunities as a part to aid planners in prioritization of measures for protection and mitigation of changes.

Funding and participation

This study arose from three research projects: (1) project Resilience and management of Arctic wetlands under the Arctic Council Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) Working Group and funded by the Swedish Ministry of the Environment and Energy in collaboration with CAFF; (2) Nordforsk Centre of Excellence CLINF; (3) A project funded by Formas.