What has led to the significant loss of tidal marshes?

The significant loss of tidal marshes can primarily be attributed to the pressures to fill these wetlands for coastal development. As urban areas expand and demand for coastal real estate increases, developers often seek to convert wetlands into building sites. This practice disrupts the natural ecosystem, which leads to the reduction of tidal marsh areas that perform essential functions such as flood protection, water filtration, and habitat provision for wildlife.

Filling wetlands for development typically disregards the ecological importance of these areas, resulting in detrimental impacts not only on biodiversity but also on the resilience of coastal zones to climate change and natural disasters.

While increased natural disasters can exacerbate the degradation of coastal areas, it is the proactive decision-making related to development that has had the most direct and significant impact on the loss of tidal marshes. Other factors, like public awareness and conservation efforts, generally aim to protect these valuable ecosystems rather than contribute to their loss, and natural sedimentation processes typically help to maintain and build marsh areas rather than lead to their decline.