Much of the world's natural coastline is protected by living habitats, particularly mangroves in warmer waters and tidal marshes closer to the poles. These ecosystems support fisheries and wildlife, absorb the impact of shock waves, and remove pollutants. However, these vital services are threatened by global warming and rising sea levels.

Recent research has shown that wetlands can respond to elevation sea level by building their own root systems , while in the process they download carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Growing recognition of the potential for this "blue" carbon sequestration is driving mangrove and tidal marsh restoration projects.

While the resilience of these ecosystems is impressive, it is not limitless. Defining the upper limits of the resilience of mangroves and swamps to accelerating sea-level rise is a topic of great interest and extensive debate. Our new research, published in the journal Nature , analyzes vulnerability and exposure   mangroves , marshes and coral islands to rising sea levels. The results underline the crucial importance of retention  global warming within 2 degrees of the pre-industrial baseline. (Neil Saintilan, The Conversation)