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In December 2022, representatives adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). The overarching goal of the agreement is to halt biodiversity loss and restore natural ecosystems – and a much-cited target is the "30x30" target of protecting and restoring 30% of Earth by 2030. Salt marshes are highly productive coastal ecosystems relevant for both biodiversity and climate change mitigation but have experienced historical major losses and are among the habitats in need of protection and restoration. Currently, there is little knowledge about how salt marshes are valued from a societal perspective, which has important management implications. This is particularly the case in the Nordic region where awareness of these habitats is low. Using survey data from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Germany, this study contributes understanding how citizens value salt marshes by examining support for different management initiatives framed as contributing to the goal of either biodiversity protection or climate change mitigation. Generally, both respondents primed with information about the importance of salt marshes for biodiversity and for climate change mitigation were supportive of the management initiatives despite having little previous knowledge of salt marshes. For one initiative, respondents who were informed of the importance of salt marshes for biodiversity were slightly more likely to support the management initiative than those informed about the importance of salt marshes for climate change mitigation. Our study provides guidance for assessment of trade-offs from a human valuation perspective, thus supporting policy makers when considering arguments for salt marsh management within the context of the 30x30 targets for protected areas. • When salt marshes were framed as important ecosystems, there was public support for management initiatives. • Respondents primed with information on the potential importance of salt marshes for climate change mitigation were not more supportive of management initiatives. • Initiatives with the least direct monetary contribution gained the most public support. • Public support for salt marsh management initiatives differed based on country and, in some cases, age and gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The saltmarsh carbon storage potential is a key topic in blue carbon research and climate policy. Ecosystem service valuations provide valuable information to policymakers for habitat management and climate change mitigation policies. Yet, only few saltmarsh valuation studies have included the carbon storage service in the UK context. This paper investigates how the public values saltmarsh ecosystem services, focussing on the carbon storage service. We used a choice experiment to elicit the willingness to pay (WTP) of a representative sample of the Scottish public to support interventions that would maintain or improve the provision of these services. Furthermore, we tested the effect of information on individuals' preferences and WTP with a split sample approach where one group received a treatment in the form of additional information. We found that (i) all attributes had a significant influence on individuals' choices; (ii) both groups had, on average, a positive marginal WTP for all presented ecosystem services; (iii) the treated sample had, on average, no significantly different marginal WTP for carbon storage than the control group. This paper adds to the limited literature on the saltmarsh carbon storage ecosystem service and demonstrates a developed nation's public's openness to nature-based climate change mitigation solutions. [Display omitted] • The Scottish public on average prefers saltmarsh management over the status quo. • Providing additional information reduced heterogeneity in WTP for carbon storage. • Most respondents preferred an improvement of all saltmarsh ecosystem services. • Therefore management should focus on both climate change mitigation and adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]