akar.earthWRC: Definition
What is WRC (wetlands restoration and conservation)? How WRC carbon projects restore peat and tidal wetlands, which methodologies apply, and Indonesian fit.
WRC (wetlands restoration and conservation) is a Verra AFOLU project category for activities that restore or conserve wetland ecosystems, such as peatlands and tidal wetlands, to increase carbon storage or avoid emissions. It covers rewetting drained peat, restoring mangroves and seagrass, and protecting intact wetlands.
Why it matters
Wetlands store far more carbon per hectare than most dry land ecosystems, mostly in waterlogged soils. When peat is drained or mangroves are cleared, that soil carbon oxidises and is released for decades. WRC projects stop those emissions and rebuild storage. They also deliver flood protection, fisheries and biodiversity co-benefits.
How WRC is measured
- Soil carbon: peat depth, bulk density and carbon content, or sediment cores in tidal wetlands.
- Water table: in peat, water table depth drives emission rates, so projects install monitoring wells.
- Vegetation: tree biomass for mangroves and peat swamp forest.
- Other gases: methane and nitrous oxide, which can rise when wetlands are rewetted.
Verra’s VM0033 covers tidal wetland and seagrass restoration. Peat rewetting is covered by WRC modules and other methods; check current versions. Fire is a major emission source on drained peat, so fire monitoring is part of measurement.
Indonesia angle
Indonesia has very large tropical peatland areas in Sumatra, Kalimantan and Papua, and the largest mangrove area of any country. Both are prime WRC candidates. Peat restoration in Indonesia follows national peat protection rules, with canal blocking and rewetting as core activities. Our guide to peatland REDD+ covers combined approaches. Mangrove restoration on abandoned aquaculture ponds is a common blue carbon opportunity.
Common mistakes
- Ignoring methane after rewetting.
- Measuring peat depth at too few points.
- Underestimating fire risk in the non-permanence assessment.
- Planting mangroves on mudflats or seagrass beds where they cannot survive.
Related terms
See blue carbon, peatland and mangrove, or explore the blue carbon hub.
Frequently asked questions
What ecosystems does WRC cover?
Peatlands, tidal wetlands such as mangroves, salt marshes and seagrass meadows, and other wetlands where restoring water levels or vegetation increases carbon storage or avoids emissions.
Can WRC be combined with REDD+?
Yes. On peat swamp forest, projects often combine REDD+ (avoiding deforestation) with WRC (rewetting peat) under the same project, using the relevant modules.