In some certain popular video games that many would play within the comfort of their home, one would be able to fight for their lives. If one is in a team, they would also fight for their teammates’ lives. However, when it comes to fighting for our lives and the lives of our fellow organisms in the real world, especially major ones like climate change, people from areas that are not well-known to the outside world believe that these issues occur in exotic places that they would need extensive planning to travel to, such as Africa and Antarctica. However, if you are a resident of Fremont, CA, and think that climate change issues arise far from home, you are quite mistaken. Newark’s Area 4 Baylands, only several kilometers from Fremont, have a real possibility of being the key to solving the problem of climate change across the United States of America.
The Newark Area 4 Baylands are just south of the Dumbarton Bridge, which is a famous place to view the blue moon in Alameda County. I am sure that many of you remember being here approximately one month ago to see the blue moon this year. Another well-known place adjacent to these wetlands is the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. This is a place that is popular by many to take hikes, watch birds, and view the bay. The Newark Baylands are also adjacent to Coyote Hills State Park, a popular spot to hike, birdwatch, and for boy and girl scouts to come to for certain activities. The Area 4 Wetlands have a unique mix of saltwater marsh, brackish, freshwater marsh, perennial aquatic habitat, and uplands. This diversity in habitat supports a diversity of plants, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. In fact, the diversity of salinity levels in the water throughout these wetlands make them reminiscent of estuaries in terms of environmental significance.
According to an article from Bay Nature, salt marsh wetlands remove plentiful carbon dioxide from the atmosphere - more than forests, in fact. The Area 4 Baylands are a salt marsh wetland that is still alive and working to take in carbon from the atmosphere. They also help to maintain water quality in San Francisco Bay by taking in excess salts and nutrients that would otherwise disrupt the balance of the components in the water, making it inhabitable for many species. Also, when sea levels rise due to global warming, the excess water has an inlet to flow into, saving the mainland from floods. Not to mention, wetlands are also popular places for recreational activities and enjoying views. Aside from the benefits for people, this ecosystem also has many other species that do not just come here for certain activities, but depend on the habitat it provides. Migratory birds often spend winters on the marshes in this area. Also, harbor seals inhabit this area and breed here during the springtime. The San Francisco Bay area has a high population of people, but the amount of essential habitats with specific features, such as the Newark Baylands, are decreasing. Therefore, it is essential to preserve this habitat and other habitats that are among the surviving of their kind. Research across these specific habitats is ongoing.
This article relies on recent information and knowledge about the San Francisco Bay Area. Changes are occurring by the day across the Newark Area 4 Baylands, a key to solving climate change across the United States of America.