As sea levels continue to rise at an alarming rate, coastal wetlands are facing unprecedented inundation. A staggering eighty-four percent of these essential ecosystems are currently experiencing loss on a national scale. The Gulf Coast wetlands are bearing the brunt of this crisis, largely due to human impact. Still, there’s hope—many wetlands could shift inland if space allows, highlighting the importance of concerted conservation efforts to preserve these invaluable habitats.
Fueled by climate change, sea levels have been rising faster than at any time in recent geologic history. This has led to an unusual race along three coasts of the contiguous US where coastal wetlands have been fighting for a slim chance of persisting. They are either lifting on newly accumulated sediments or moving inland as encroaching tides follow them at their heels.Now, the first national-level study of this competition has revealed that coastal wetlands which are among the country’s most valuable ecosystems are losing ground with 84% of them gradually inundating, and many on track to transform into open water. Wetlands along the Gulf Coast are generally faring the worst, while certain stretches of the Atlantic Coast appear more resilient. Some wetlands may be able to migrate inland or build up sediment fast enough to keep pace with sea level rise, perhaps with the right help from land managers.”Our study provides wetland managers with new information to help them make better-informed decisions and identify meaningful solutions to issues they may be encountering, including facilitating wetland migration upslope,” said Glenn Guntenspergen, a coastal wetland ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey and senior author on the study published in Earth’s Future.
