The Loss of Coastal Wetlands

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The Loss of Coastal Wetlands This paper introduces the environmental concerns of the loss of coastal wetlands. The paper will discuss the significance of wetlands and the devastation that is occurring because of human activity. Wetlands are an essential element of our environment both ecological and societal; conservation will be essential for the preservation of these precious ecosystems. Globally coastal wetlands are disappearing at an alarming rate, the problem is most of society does not realize the value of these precious wetlands. Coastal wetlands provide an important role in the coastal ecosystem. “Coastal wetlands provide critical services such as absorbing energy from coastal storms, preserving shorelines, protecting human populations and infrastructure, supporting commercial seafood harvests, absorbing pollutants and serving as critical habitat for migratory bird populations”(Anonymous, 2011). Coastal wetlands are an economical asset as well as an environmental one. Human activity is one of the leading causes of the disappearance of coastal wetlands. As the human population increases in coastal cities so does the demand for more land. Urbanization is causing enormous amounts of devastation to the existing wetlands. Unrestricted development is causing the erosion of soil, which is dumping foreign sediments into the wetlands polluting the water and disturbing the ecosystem. According to Lee et al. (2006) “Urbanization is a major cause of loss of coastal wetlands. Urbanization also exerts significant influences on the structure and function of coastal wetlands, mainly through modifying the hydrological and sedimentation regimes, and the dynamics of nutrients and chemical pollutants”. Restrictions on the development... ... middle of paper ... ...he preservation of these precious ecosystems so that future generations can appreciate the serenity and value of the wetlands. Works Cited Anonymous, (2011) . Many Coastal Wetlands Likely to Disappear This Century, Scientists Say. Trends in Applied Sciences Research, 6(7), 772. Retrieved September 11, 2011, from ProQuest Central. (Document ID: 2442184441). Hong, S., Koh, C., Harris, R., Kim, J., Lee, J., & Ihm, B.. (2010). Land Use in Korean Tidal Wetlands: Impacts and Management Strategies. Environmental Management, 45(5), 1014-26. Retrieved September 11, 2011, from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID: 2036528131). Lee, S. Y., Dunn, R. K., Young, R. A., Connolly, R. M., Dale, P. R., Dehayr, R. R., & ... Welsh, D. T. (2006). Impact of urbanization on coastal wetland structure and function. Austral Ecology, 31(2), 149-163. doi:10.1111/j.1442-9993.2006.01581.x

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