When people think of important ecosystems, they usually think of Coral Reefs. Which is reasonable because reefs play a significant role keeping this planet alive and get quite a lot of media attention, for good reason. But they are not only important for biodiversity they also have a monetary significance for society, from the fishing industry to groundbreaking discoveries in medicine (Costal Reef Alliance, 4/28/25). But one severely underrated and important ecosystem with significant importance is the salt marshes.

Salt Marshes are a place where there is a lot of plant and animal biodiversity, and they also provide many ecological services for not just us but for all organisms. They filter pollutants out of the water and trap nutrients within the soil (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee). Many organisms go there to reproduce due to having good protection for their you to hide within the salt grasses, and plenty of food for them. Crabs, Shrimps, and Oysters live and breed there and all three of them are major human resources in both food that we eat but also food that we sell.

On the topic of monetary value salt marshes provide us with many benefits. They house many of the organisms that are major food sources for humans. But arguably the most important benefit for some people is that they provide protection for the coastline and the properties that reside within it. In 2022, there as an estimated $165 Billion in property damages to costal properties (Chandler, MIT News, 10/23/24). Salt marshes act as a buffer for the strong waves that come during strong storms like hurricanes.

As time goes on more and more costal development keeps happening and this important ecosystem keeps getting destroyed. And the more that this keeps happening the worse things are going to get not only for the organisms that live within the ecosystem but also for the property owners.