Are estuaries on the brink? This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the escalating environmental threats facing these vital coastal ecosystems. It highlights the detrimental impacts of human activities, including pollution, habitat destruction, and freshwater diversions, emphasizing the urgent need for remedial actions. The study underscores how these factors compromise the ecological integrity of estuaries worldwide. Analyzing long-term environmental challenges, the authors detail the effects of nutrient overloading, pathogen influx, and chemical contamination on estuarine water quality. The research also examines the consequences of wetland destruction and habitat alteration on biotic communities, emphasizing the vulnerability of estuarine organisms to human impacts. Trends are analyzed to forecast the impact of population growth and associated environmental stressors on these environments. Looking ahead to 2025, the research anticipates significant habitat loss, increased eutrophication, and escalating overfishing as primary drivers of estuarine degradation. Mitigation strategies such as improved water management and habitat restoration are suggested to reduce these effects. This study provides a crucial outlook on the future of estuaries and promotes proactive conservation efforts.
Published in Environmental Conservation, this study aligns with the journal’s focus on ecological integrity and sustainable management of natural resources. By detailing the environmental threats to estuaries and suggesting mitigation strategies, the paper contributes to the journal’s broader coverage of environmental sciences and the conservation of vulnerable ecosystems. The paper also resonates with Environmental Conservation’s dedication to interdisciplinary research, integrating aspects of ecology, geography, and technology to address complex environmental challenges.