A plan to conserve 1 million acres of Southeast salt marsh is starting to take shape after federal, state, and military leaders, conservation groups, scientists, the Gullah/Geechee Nation, and others have worked together for a year to assess options for protecting the valuable coastal habitat.
The project, known as the South Atlantic Salt Marsh Initiative, launched in May 2021 to conserve a coastal area nearly the size of Grand Canyon National Park that stretches from North Carolina to northeast Florida. Salt marshes, which are channels of coastal grasslands, protect coastlines from flooding, erosion, and storm surge, filter upland runoff, and serve as vital habitat for fish, birds, and other animals. Salt marshes also house many sites of cultural and spiritual significance. These tidal wetlands face a number of threats, including rising seas, polluted runoff, and encroaching development. Further, the Southeast coast is home to about a dozen military installations, and Defense Department officials have voiced support for nature-based solutions to fortify their bases from sea level rise and other environmental risks.
Pew helped launch the initiative, which is organized under the leadership of the Southeast Regional Partnership for Planning and Sustainability (SERPPAS). SERPPAS includes members of the Defense Department and other federal agencies along with state environmental and natural resource officials from across the Southeast. About 270 stakeholders have joined the effort, including fishermen, conservation groups, and Queen Quet of the Gullah/Geechee Nation, which is made up of descendants of enslaved Africans who own some of the coastal lands and depend on salt marsh for their livelihoods.
Recently, project participants gathered for a virtual workshop to kick off the process of writing the conservation plan. A draft is expected this summer, with a final plan slated for release next year. Here are summaries of the eight topic areas participants discussed and some ideas that emerged, although the group hasn’t made any commitments yet:
Once a plan is drafted, the coalition of stakeholders leading the salt marsh initiative will review and provide further input before the document is finalized.
A comprehensive salt marsh plan will help communities, governments, and the military better prepare for the future through coordinated, forward-thinking transportation and development plans, strategic restoration projects, and conservation of large areas of adjacent open lands. Such a plan also will help protect marsh species and areas that are crucial to recreational and commercial fishing, hunting, birding, eco-tourism, and other activities that support coastal businesses and economies. Working together, stakeholders can develop a guide that promotes a more resilient and prosperous Southeast coast.
Joseph Gordon is a project director and Lora Clarke is an officer with The Pew Charitable Trusts’ conserving marine life in the United States project.