Large-scale Satellite Mapping Unveils Uneven Wetland Restoration Needs Across Europe

Wetlands are crucial carbon sinks for climate change mitigation, yet historical land use changes have resulted in carbon losses and increased CO2 emissions. To combat this, the European Union aims to restore 30% of degraded wetlands in Europe by 2030. However, comprehensive continental-scale inventories are essential for prioritizing restoration and assessing high carbon stock wetlands, revealing the inadequacy of existing datasets. Leveraging 10-meter satellite data and machine learning, our study achieved 94±0.5% accuracy in mapping six wetland types across Europe in 2018. Our analysis identifies that over 40% of European wetlands experience anthropogenic disturbances, with 32.7% classified as highly disturbed due to urban and agricultural activities. Country-level assessments highlight an uneven distribution of restoration needs, emphasizing the urgent importance of data-informed approaches for meaningful restoration. This study underscores the critical need to address land use impact to preserve and enhance wetland carbon storage capabilities.