Coastal Louisiana's wetlands are among the most important winter and migration habitats for waterfowl in North America, and they support world-class hunting and fishing opportunities. However, the Gulf Coast's hunting legacy and coastal marshes are under siege. Every hour, an area of wetlands the size of a football field is lost in Louisiana alone. Such long term losses were occurring prior to the recent oil spill disaster, prior to multiple strong hurricanes in recent years, and they continue today. If actions are not taken now to conserve and restore these vital marshes and wetlands, the continent's most critical wintering habitat for waterfowl will be lost forever.
Stretching from the Mississippi-Louisiana state line, west, and south to the mouth of the Rio Grande River, the marshes and bays of the Gulf of Mexico were once among the most productive wetland systems in North America. Today, the region's ability to support waterfowl is severely compromised by natural and human-induced changes. The result is a dramatic loss of wetlands and their associated functions and values.
Learn about the Gulf Coast's marshes and wetlands by reading feature articles in the DU Magazine.
America's Marsh
A third of Louisiana's coastal marsh is gone, and 50 more acres are lost each day. Can this crucial wintering ground be saved?
Crude Awakening
In the aftermath of the Gulf oil spill, Ducks Unlimited calls for a renewed commitment to saving the region's imperiled wetlands.
Saving America's Marsh
Coastal wetland loss and degradation are threatening Louisiana's rich hunting and fishing heritage.
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