Land loss and habitat change by the year 2050 will affect the nation's wildlife population. Sea birds, wading birds and shore birds are expected to decrease, along with raptors and woodland birds. Alligators and furbearers will decrease in certain areas of the coast, as will the abundance of ducks and geese. Louisiana's cities and coastal communities are at great risk as the wetlands and barrier islands disappear, leaving people with no buffer from storm surges and the force of high winds. Miles of hurricane protection levees will be exposed to open water conditions, forcing widespread relocation and abandonment of coastal communities.
Wetlands create friction and reduce high winds when hurricanes hit.
They also absorb hurricane storm surges. Scientists estimate that every 2.7 miles of wetlands absorbs one foot of storm surge. The recent strike of Hurricane Georges, just a few miles east, brought home just how devastating a direct hit to New Orleans would be. The potential loss of life and property is incomprehensible and the threat of disaster was not lost on the city's residents. Hotel space was scarce as far north as Memphis.