Wetlands in The Netherlands and New Zealand: optimising biodiversity and carbon sequestration during urbanisation.

The halting of biodiversity decline of wetlands necessitates ecosystem protection, restoration and re-creation of all wetland types preferably in all suitable landscapes. As peat wetlands (bogs and fens) are superior as carbon stores, and because of their rarity they have a higher biodiversity value relative to other wetland types, they need to be prioritised for protection and restoration. The hydrological, pH, and nutrient conditions essential to each type of wetland that need to be understood and provided for during development are discussed for The Netherlands' and New Zealand.