Thomas Worthington

Coastal ecosystem ecology and conservation, with and emphasis on understanding restoration opportunities and the ecosystem services provided by vegetated coastal ecosystems.

Research Area

Our research focuses on advancing the science and practice of coastal wetland conservation and restoration, with the aim of supporting effective, scalable, and science-based decision-making.  Coastal ecosystems are among some of the most threatened ecosystems globally, with rapid declines due to anthropogenic stressors. Understanding the full scope of restoration opportunities and potential benefits is vital for stakeholders to effectively plan and scale-up future efforts. We develop tools and approaches to guide restoration efforts in line with global policy frameworks such as the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and the Paris Agreement.

We quantify the ecosystem services provided by coastal wetlands such as mangroves saltmarshes and seagrass—including carbon storage, coastal protection, and support for fisheries and tourism—using a combination of field data, remote sensing, and modelling. A key part of our work involves mapping the extent, condition, and change of coastal wetlands worldwide, using remote sensing, AI, and spatial analysis.  We work with several international NGO partners such as The Nature Conservancy, WWF and Wetlands International to ensure our research has policy and implementation impact.  The data we create, including those developed through the Global Mangrove Watch data platform, support monitoring and prioritisation of sites for protection and restoration.

Project Interests

I am keen to develop new projects on the broad themes of coastal ecosystem ecology and conservation. I am interested in how we can better map the connectivity and transitions between multiple coastal ecosystems, as part of efforts to conserve the wider coastal seascape.  I would also like to investigate how ecosystem services quantified at broad spatial scales relate to on the ground measurements and whether large scale datasets are useful to support conservation projects.