Wetland Disappearance
Wetlands, mangroves and mudflats have been drained to ‘improve’ land for centuries, be it to impose monoculture cultivation, create real estate, displace ‘fugitive’ wetland people avoiding state control, or eradicate malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases for colonisers.
In the past decades, however, the importance of wetland ecosystems has been highlighted. They are recognised for being incredibly biodiverse habitats, crucial stopovers along migratory bird flyways, water filtering zones, and invaluable buffers against sea flooding.
To prepare for the inevitable rise of water levels worldwide, efforts are made to ‘soften’ concrete-laden shores. It is there that wetlands can also support diverse food systems that thrive between the land and the sea.
Enhancing symbiotic relationships, CLIMAVORE works to promote food practices supporting producers that take care of the present and future of wetlands. The variety of foraged or harvested ingredients in these areas can ensure wetlands continue existing as inhabited landscapes and are not drained to accommodate built infrastructure.
