For several decades Louisiana has lost up to 40 square miles of marsh a year. The loss of Louisiana's wetlands is a tragedy not only for Louisiana residents but for the entire country.
Wetlands are very important and highly productive ecosystems on Earth.
If the current rate of loss is not slowed, Louisiana could lose an additional 800,000 acres of wetlands. This could cause the Louisiana shoreline to advance inland as much as 33 miles in some areas. The advancement of the coastline 33 miles inland would leave New Orleans and Houma directly exposed to the forces of the Gulf of Mexico. Loss of coastal wetlands not only means a loss of land but also a loss of jobs. An estimated 50,000 jobs are directly related to the fishing industry.