Recent research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that marshes may be more resilient to climate change and sea-level rise than previously believed. The study indicates that increased atmospheric CO2 leads to higher photosynthesis and plant growth in marshes, enabling them to trap more sediment and generate more organic soil. This process could allow marshes to accrue soil at a rate that nearly keeps pace with rising sea levels, potentially increasing their inundation threshold by up to 60 percent. Marco Marani from Duke University, who participated in the study, describes this as a self-rising mechanism that marshes use to build themselves up.

Marco Marani, a hydrology professor at the University of Padova and director of the Center for the Study of Climate Change Impacts in Rovigo, discusses strategies to mitigate flood risks and damages. He emphasizes the importance of continuous monitoring of riverbanks, systematic planning for flood expansion basins, and emergency planning for exceptional events like the recent floods in Romagna. Marani also suggests starting from schools to prepare people for emergency situations, including training and drills. He highlights the need for investments in monitoring and maintenance, which are less costly than restoration after damage. Marani points out that while many expansion basins are planned, bureaucratic challenges often delay their implementation. He also mentions the potential for upstream interventions on major rivers to intercept floods, which could also help with drought issues by storing water for agricultural or civil use.

A study from Duke University, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggests that coastal marshes may be more resilient to sea-level rise caused by climate change than previously thought. The study, led by PhD student Katherine M. Ratliff, indicates that increased atmospheric CO2 levels boost marsh plant productivity, enabling marshes to trap more sediment and create organic soil. This process could allow marshes to keep pace with rising sea levels and potentially increase the thresholds for marsh drowning by up to 60 percent. However, the study also notes that sediment starvation remains a significant threat to marsh survival, as human activities reduce sediment delivery to marshes. The research was co-authored by Anna E. Braswell and Professor Marco Marani, with funding from the National Science Foundation and Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment and Pratt School of Engineering.