Wetlands are rare and fragmented habitats in the UK nowadays and c.90% of these have been lost in the last century. Over 10% of the freshwater and wetland species are threatened with extinction and almost 70% of existing species are in decline. Wetlands make up only 3% of the UK land mass but are home to around 10% of all our species, so conserving existing wetlands and developing new ones on suitable floodplain sites are vital for the species that remain. Wetland are known to support an abundance of freshwater life and they also provide effective carbon sequestration and function as a carbon sink, arguably to a greater degree than woodlands with a comparable surface area.

Work to improve the habitats' biodiversity in the two main areas of floodplains:

1. On the Streatley (Berkshire) side of the river, upstream of Goring lock, Streatley Meadows is a BAP-classified as a Priority Habitat within the Thames Wallingford to Goring Conservation Target Area (CTA). It has the potential to enhance and increase the quality of the habitat and significantly increase biodiversity, especially for wetland species such as waders. 
2. On the Goring (Oxfordshire) side of the river between Goring and North Stoke (also a BAP-classified as a Priority Habitat within the Thames Wallingford to Goring Conservation Target Area (CTA). Both these areas are wildlife-rich and also contribute to climate change resilience by acting as a carbon sink and worth developing a joined-up long-term enhancement and maintenance programme.