New research has found wetlands can prevent millions of dollars of storm damage.

The study found US counties with more wetlands experienced significantly less property damage from hurricanes and tropical storms over a recent 20-year period.

For low-lying coastal communities, wetlands are a natural buffer against sea-level rise and increasing storm intensity due to climate change.

Using data from tropical cyclone systems in the United States from 1996 to 2016, researchers at the University of California analysed the ability of coastal wetlands to serve as natural levees and reduce property damage.

The authors calculated the estimated economic value of the protective effects of wetlands by analysing the effects of 88 tropical cyclones on 232 counties of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

Considering factors that include property values and local elevation, the authors estimated that the average marginal value of 1km2 of wetlands is $1.8 million per year.

Applying the model, the authors estimated that wetland losses in Florida since 1996 increased damage from Hurricane Irma by $430 million.

According to the authors, wetland preservation or restoration can be a cost-effective policy to mitigate storm damage, even when other ecosystem services provided by wetlands are not taken into account.

The full study is accessible here.