Forest ThreatNet

Sea-level rise associated with climate change poses increasing threats to coastal wetlands that are vital for wildlife habitats, carbon sequestration, water supply, and other ecosystem services with global significance. Scientists examined coastal wetland degradation patterns and monitored the dramatic functional changes of these wetlands in carbon sequestration during the past decade in the North Carolina coast.

Coastal forested wetlands provide critical ecological functions and services for coastal communities, such as clean water and carbon storage, soil erosion mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and wildlife habitat provision in the southeastern US. However, coastal wetlands are among the most endangered ecosystems under global warming, frequent extreme weather events, and sea-level rise. USDA Forest Service scientists and university partners have been conducting a series of long-term studies to map wetland degradation and measure ecosystem responses to sea level rise in the Alligator National Wildlife Refuge of coastal North Carolina. The scientists used high resolution, long-term, remotely sensed data monitoring vegetation greenness and productivity, together with Forest Inventory and Analysis field data, and advanced computer models to track the degradation of coastal wetlands. The research team established an eddy covariance flux tower in 2009 and has continuously measured carbon and water cycles in response to climate change and sea level rise in a bottomland hardwood forest. Findings have established that wetland degradation is accelerating in the study region, and wetlands have already lost a large amount of stored carbon, an impact related to the rapid rise of sea level.