Plantwatch: salt marshes are the unsung heroes saving our coastlines

Although they are refuges for fish and birds, and help capture CO2, many are under threatSalt marshes are not glamorous - muddy flats on coasts and estuaries, washed with seawater on the tides, where only specially adapted plants can survive in such a tough salty environment.Although frequently ignored, salt marshes are unsung heroes. They help protect coastlines from storms, storm surges and erosion by creating a buffer between dry land and the sea, building up the height of the coast by trapping silt during floods and adding new soil from their decaying vegetation. Continue reading...