Threatened salt marsh habitats

Coastal wetlands are under threat especially in Europe from infrastructural development such as esturine barrages for power generation, flood control and water supply. Other threats include the channelisation of wetlands and rivers. The removal of wetland timber has lead to great degradation in the south of the USA.

There has been a considerable loss of the worlds wetlands besides mangroves. The worst affected regions are the USA, Europe and China.

It is estimated that 30% to 40% of the coastal wetlands of the USA have been lost; with 24,200ha lost in Florida alone, and California has lost at least two thirds of its coastal wetlands. More has been lost on the east Atlantic coast.