(posted by Lori C)
http://www.lacoast.gov/
http://marine.usgs.gov/fact-sheets/LAwetlands/lawetlands.html
Louisiana Wetlands: A Resource at Risk
The coastal Louisiana wetlands are one of the most beneficial wetlands in the United States. Not only can the economy be significantly supported by these swamps and marshes, but other things such as recreational and agricultural interests make up a large part of what numerous animals call home. Today, the Louisiana wetlands loss is the greatest in the Nation. Approximately half of the United States’ original coastal habitats have perished over the past two-hundred years. The Louisiana coast itself represents forty percent of the wetlands in the mainland United States, as well as eighty percent of the quantity lost. For these reasons, I feel that it is crucial that every effort is being made to save the wetlands. Scientists across the Nation continue to study why Louisiana’s coastline is fading away, while others are asking how it can be fixed and who exactly should decide.
Whether you are from Louisiana or not, do you feel that these wetlands are a beneficial resource needed to be saved or a lost cause?
Do you find it too much of a risk to continue to put more money into trying to fix and protect the wetlands even though they are extremely profitable?
I have always thought that the Louisiana wetlands to be a major point in enviromental injustice that affects citizens across the country in one way or another, do you agree?
1/22/09
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I find this issue of Louisiana wetlands very important. I agree with the standpoint of Lori C because the wetlands are not only home to thousands of animals, but many resources can be pulled from these wetlands. Also, these wetlands can help bring down the severity of hurricanes coming onto the Louisiana coast. If there is less damage, then there are more lives and money saved. In no way should these wetlands be a lost cause. People not only of Louisiana but rather all of the United States should fight to keep these wetlands. Only good can come from it. This was a very important topic to be addressed, and I glad someone did. Thank you Lori C.
ReplyDeleteAll in all the Louisiana wetlands may seem like a lost cause to someone who doesn't understand they are essential to our environment as a whole, but i personally believe this is a dyer issue that should be top of the list priority. Things tend to get worse before ever getting better, and this holds true to our wetlands. You must give a little to get a little, that is what we need to do about this problem. These wetlands are vital not only to Louisiana but to the U.S. as a whole and if it takes quite a bit of money to get us on the right track, I'm all for it. Besides, what would we do without our vast export of seafood?
ReplyDeleteI think the Louisiana Wetlands are a very important issue that we really have to focus on in years to come. To answer the second question up there I think that we should put as much money into helping our wetlands as we possibly can. They are a vital asset to our local economy as well as a home to a numerous amount of wildlife and fisheries. I guess we really have to be thankful that we have a great Governor, that I know will put a lot of emphasis on this topic for his term in office.
ReplyDeleteI took the Honors 2000 class last year and this topic was one of the main issues discussed. I am from out of state and had no idea that the wetlands were deteriorating at such an alarming rate. When I found out, I was shocked that I hadn't even heard about this before. People's homes are literally sinking into the gulf. Whole towns have disappeared under water. To lose these wetlands is to lose not only towns and homes, but jobs, economic sources, and habitats for wetland animals. I definitely think the wetlands need to be saved, no matter the economic risk. By damning up the Mississippi River, we caused this loss of sediment and eventually of land and it is our job to right this wrong.
ReplyDeleteThe topic I'm doing for my proposal is Global warming and the effects it has on the rising sea levels and the Louisiana coastline. I find Lori's post very interesting because I'm touching on a lot of the same stuff in my research. Our wetlands are eroding at an extremely fast rate, the quickest in the entire nation. If something isn't done soon we could lose many areas around New Orleans that would literally sink into the ocean. A someone else also mentioned, we aren't just dealing with lost land, we're dealing with lost homes, jobs and even entire communities. Its a huge issue that we need to seriously focus on and try to raise awareness about ways to help.
ReplyDeleteBeing from Louisiana I may have biased opinion about the conservation of the Wetlands. The Wetlands provide the first line of defense to the United States coast against hurricanes. In the last few years Hurricanes Katrina and Rita took over 200 square yards of marshlands in one hurricane season along. The slow deterioration of the wetlands has resulted in the loss of some Louisiana cities and towns. In the next few years, if nothing is done to help the wetlands, New Orleans may have something to worry about.
ReplyDeleteThe money that the government has given researchers to try and solve the problem is extremely important. This is a serious issue that needs to be resolved for the sake of the Louisiana coastline.