Salt marshes are amongst the most productive ecosystems in the world and provide important ecosystem services, namely regulation and maintenance of coastal areas. Acting as coastal filters, salt marshes also have important roles in carbon (C) storage, thus contributing to climate regulation at local and global levels.

Nevertheless, these habitats have been converted or degraded due to many drivers and pressures, and its sustainability and C storage capacity might be threatened by climate change effects. As a result of global climate change and sea level rise, Baixo Vouga Lagunar (BVL) salt marshes, included in Ria de Aveiro (Portugal), are likely to be affected and, consequently, the services they provide, namely C storage.

The main goals in this project are to analyse the BVL salt marshes phytosociological trend and to assess their C storage capacity, as an ecosystem service.