Threats
Despite being the most important habitat for migratory birds in the Northern Hemisphere, one of the most productive wetlands in the world, and the last of its kind in North America, the Atchafalaya Basin is under siege. The Atchafalaya Basin faces threats from all fronts, including but not limited to, unsustainable and illegal cypress logging, increased sedimentation, privatization of public waters, illegal development, and lack of enforcement of environmental laws.
Increased Siltation is turning the most productive wetlands in America into dry bottomland hardwood forests.
Dredging of Oil field Canals has changed natural hydrology of the Atchafalaya Basin, accelerating siltation, and creating huge water quality problems.
Lack of enforcement of our Environmental Laws contributes to more pollution further degradation of wetlands and diminished mitigation for permitted activities.
Logging our last cypress-tupelo swamps mainly to supply cypress mulch.
Logging of bottomland hardwood forest continues even on public lands.
The Basin is mostly (over half) privately owned or claimed, which restricts public access and public use, thereby inhibiting the development of strong a ecotourism and commercial fishing industries and decreasing support for conservation.
Pollution from oil fields including oil waste and mercury pollution.
Corruption at all levels in the state of Louisiana.
Wetlands are constantly being trashed by commercial and sport users of the Basin, tugboats, and oil workers impacting wildlife and the scenery.
