LIFE WetLands4CLIMATE wins 2026 Climate Action prize for wetland carbon sink restoration in Spain

The LIFE WetLands4CLIMATE project, coordinated by Fundacion Global Nature, won the Climate Action category at the 2026 LIFE Awards. The project restored Mediterranean wetlands in Spain to improve their carbon sink capacity, saving 3,690 tonnes of CO2 equivalent over four years. Mitigation gains ranged from 25% to 700% depending on management techniques like sediment or vegetation control. More than 50 companies joined workshops to reduce their carbon footprint through wetland restoration. The project produced a handbook for land managers and policymakers, linking wetland management directly to EU climate goals and biodiversity regulations. It shows that nature-based solutions can deliver measurable carbon outcomes when backed by solid data and private sector engagement.