Floodplain forests play a pivotal role in the river ecosystem — creating wildlife habitat, improving water quality, storing carbon and slowing flooding. But they’re disappearing.
Floodplain forests play a pivotal role in the Mississippi River ecosystem – creating wildlife habitat, improving water quality, storing carbon and slowing flooding. But they’re disappearing faster as high water from longer-lasting floods soaks the trees more than they can stand. With funding available, the challenge is finding the right solution before things get much worse.