Today has been officially declared America’s Wetlands Day.
Growing up around coastal Mississippi and Louisiana, I’ve always been aware of how important the wetlands are to us. The affects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have made the issues of wetland conservation and restoration more important than ever. Just check out these facts from the America’s Wetlands website:
Louisiana’s coast is disappearing at a rate of 25 square miles per year, that is equivalent to losing over a football field every 38 minutes. In the past 70 years more than 1,900 square miles of coastal Louisiana have been lost. The Effect of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita – Before the storms, scientists predicted that this area might lose 60 square miles of vegetated wetlands by 2050. In just two days, when Hurricanes Katrina and Rita passed through, 218 square miles of vegetated marsh turned to open water.
Another issue affecting the wetlands in this area is the widespread clear cutting of cypress forests for use in cypress mulch. These cypress forests act as natural buffers against storm surges from hurricanes, not to mention the habitat they provide for many threatened and endangered species of local wildlife.
Click on the following links to learn more about the dangers affecting our coastal wetlands and what can be done to help:
Parishes Against Coastal Erosion
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Hi! Nice site!
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