The largest Mississippi River delta is under siege: a multifaceted attack of sediment erosion, rising sea levels and flooding is putting enormous pressure on the wetlands between the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico.. Scientists are concerned that such pressure could seriously harm local wildlife and the millions of people who call the region home, writes IFLScience.

Experts say the loss of Louisiana's wetlands is caused by both natural and human-caused factors spanning acute and chronic stress. Observations show that vast areas of marshy wetlands are simply being lost to floods, storms and rising sea levels - all of which are also accelerating sediment erosion. At the same time, scientists note that human activities upstream of the Mississippi River, such as dam construction, agriculture and fossil fuel infrastructure, significantly impede the natural replenishment of wetlands with sediment.. All this results in an imbalance of nutrients..

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Due to these problems, river deltas have seen significant loss of vegetation, namely the grass-like reeds that help the land recover from floods.. One of the hardest-hit regions is the Birds Foot Delta, according to Tulane University coastal geologist Mead Ellison.. Moreover, scientists believe that this place is one of the most vulnerable places in America, and possibly on Earth.

Researchers note that this problem is not new at all.. Louisiana has lost more than 5,179 square kilometers of land since the 1930s, but scientists now believe the situation is spinning out of control and approaching a crisis point.. Statistics show that every 100 minutes in Louisiana, an area the size of a football field becomes open water..

If the Mississippi River Delta continues to deteriorate, nearly half of Louisiana's population, more than 2 million people, will be at risk. Coastal residents and those who rely on wetlands for recreation and subsistence will be particularly at risk. Note that the region is also an economic center, responsible for a huge amount of tourism, fishing, freight transport and crude oil production.

The Mississippi River Delta is also home to a wealth of wildlife, including 400 species of birds and an incredible number of fish, mammals, amphibians and smaller organisms that are critical to the broader ecosystem.

According to researchers from Louisiana State University and Tulane, if the river delta continues to shrink, much of its biodiversity could be lost.. Now scientists are embarking on a multi-year study to identify the problems facing the delta in order to reduce stress on the ecosystem.

According to project director and professor in the Department of Geology and Geophysics Sam Bentley, the project's first priority is to determine what the future holds for the geomorphological landmass.. Scientists also hope to develop a plan that will preserve the fragile ecosystem..

Focus previously wrote that scientists have created the most complete map of the world's rivers.