For centuries, saltmarshes around the world have been lost to land claim. What’s left is now threatened by climate change and use of the coast by people. My review discusses the latest knowledge on the processes of saltmarsh expansion and erosion, and how attitudes towards saltmarsh management have changed over the years.
- Attitudes towards saltmarshes have undergone a fundamental shift from reclamation, to protection, to restoration after the 1940s
- Saltmarshes continually cycle between phases of expansion and erosion, driven by processes that operate across a range of spatial and temporal scales
- Integration of saltmarsh process knowledge and inclusion of coastal communities in decision-making are essential for safeguarding saltmarshes for future generations
This work was supported by the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol Cynllun Ysgoloriaethau Ymchwil and Prifysgol Bangor.