Wetlands

Page reviewed: 04/07/2025

At the Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, extensive research is conducted on wetlands and ponds. Our expertise includes identifying optimal locations for their construction and evaluating their effects on water quality and greenhouse gas emissions.

Research at the department covers a broad range of wetland types, including constructed wetlands and phosphorus retention ponds in agricultural landscapes, restored peatlands in forested areas, beaver ponds, and bogs. We also study urban ponds and ponds that act as barriers to aquatic organism migration.

Our research focuses on:

Optimal locations and design of wetlands and ponds
The role of microbes in wetland functionality
Greenhouse gas emissions from wetlands and ponds
Water quality following wetland restoration
Biodiversity: which species thrive in which wetland types

"A wetland optimised for one goal, such as biodiversity, may not necessarily be beneficial for another, such as climate impact. Our broad expertise in this field allows us to consider as many factors as possible, enabling us to provide robust decision-making support for authorities and policymakers, says Jens Fölster, head of research at the department.

Knowledge bank article on wetlands

Our research teaches us that wetlands are complex ecosystems. Interventions and restoration efforts are not always beneficial in every context. It is therefore essential to consider multiple aspects when managing wetlands. We share our diverse water-related perspectives in a knowledge bank article to increase awareness and understanding of wetlands (in Swedish).

Videos on Wetlands and Ponds

All videos are in Swedish.

Wetlands – a diversity for all, featuring Martyn Futter and Pia Geranmayeh (September 2024, Youtube)
Worth Knowing: The Right Measure in the Right Place – from Desk to Soil, with Faruk Djodjic (September 2023, SLU Play)
Faruk Djodjic interviewed by SVT Västmanland: “New mapping tool aims to create more wetlands – and in the right places” (February 2023, SVT)
Pia Geranmayeh lecture at the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency’s Wetlands Webinar, 4 October 2021: “Phosphorus ponds and tools for wetland placement”
Information video including contributions from Västervik Municipality on phosphorus ponds, with Pia Geranmayeh (February 2012, Youtube)

Tools for Wetland Siting and Design

We investigate where wetlands should ideally be constructed or restored, and how they should be designed.

For instance, we have developed maps indicating suitable locations for wetlands aimed at nitrogen and phosphorus retention. These maps serve as a basis for identifying areas where nutrient loads are sufficiently high to justify wetland construction for nutrient retention, as well as indicating appropriate wetland sizes. In areas with low nutrient loads, wetlands should instead be designed to promote biodiversity or mitigate peak flows.

Contribute to the Research

If you are in Uppsala, you can help our researchers by visiting the Gottsunda stormwater park, the storm water dam in Hospitalsträdgården, Ullbodammen, and/or Stordammen in LunsenGottsunda stormwater park, Ullbodammen, and/or Stordammen in Lunsen to take photographs or perform measurements.

Examples of research projects about wetlands and dams

At the department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment you do also find the secretariat which coordinates the activities at the research stations within SITES. At several of the research stations can wetlands be studied.

Publications

Scientific articles on wetlands, ponds, and bogs, written by affiliates at the department

Research about wetlands at other parts of SLU

Here we describe the research about wetlands at the Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment. At other parts of SLU there is also a large knowledge about wetlands, and we do also have co-operations with several of the other wetland researchers. Please see the Swedish version of this page for more information about wetland research at other parts of SLU.