The swan sanctuary wetland fighting climate change

Swans and ducks have enjoyed the wetland reserve at Slimbridge for 80 years Most people know rainforests are vital in the fight against climate change, but now scientists say wetlands could be even more important. Saltmarshes, mangrove swamps and wetlands can absorb carbon "four times faster than trees", according to the charity the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT). Celebrating 80 years since WWT's first wetland bird reserve was founded at Slimbridge, in Gloucestershire, the charity's leaders have called for one million hectares of wetlands to be restored across the world. Sarah Fowler, CEO of WWT, said: "They are mood-boosting, flood-buffering, water-purifying, incredible habitats. But we have lost 85% of the world's wetlands." Sir Peter Scott feeds migrating swans and geese at Slimbridge in 1947, with Desmond Hawkins, BBC features producer from Bristol WWT now runs 10 wetland bird reserves across the UK. Many people come to enjoy the swans, geese, flamingoes and migrating wildfowl, but do not realise how powerful these habitats can be in soaking up carbon and slowing down climate change. So how vital are wetlands for birds, and how powerful can they be in the fight against climate change? In November 1946, a naturalist called Peter Scott came to a wild marshy area on the banks of the River Severn, near Slimbridge. Captivated, Scott settled in a small cottage and later built a house right on a lake, with a huge window to watch the wildfowl. He dug lakes and connecting channels, built hides and even towers to watch the birds without disturbing them. Over the years, the reserve grew and became home to thousands of ducks, swans , geese as well as the migrating wildfowl. Sir Peter Scott with the first nine Nēnē geese he hand-reared at Slimbridge in 1952 "He really was a pioneer in conservation," said Chris Moore, a historian of Slimbridge and author of Peter Scott and the Birth of Modern Conservation. As well as creating a safe haven for endangered species, Scott was a vigorous campaigner for nature. He led the fight to stop commercial whaling, presented some of the BBC's first natural history programmes called live from Slimbridge, and helped set up WWF, the World Wildlife Fund. In 1973 Sir Peter Scott became the first person to be knighted for conservation work. Moore explained: "Scott was talking about the impact that man was having on the natural world, long before we started talking about climate change and global warming. "David Attenborough called him the Patron Saint of Conservation, and I think that is more than deserved," Moore added.