PrintCoastal Wetlands and Maritime Forests
What is a coastal marsh? What are mangroves and what role do they play in capturing sediment and anchoring substrate? How can the presence of extensive marsh platforms and mangrove forests help to reduce inland storm surges and flooding?
Coastal wetlands and maritime forests are unique communities of vegetation that can exist along coastal zones. They are directly affected by coastal conditions including changes in water level due to tides, coastal river influx, freshwater, saltwater, wave activity, wind and salt spray, and storm surges. Inasmuch as they are communities uniquely synced to the conditions of their environment, even subtle changes in one condition can cause widespread deleterious changes to the plants themselves.