Salt marshes are most vulnerable to sea-level rise due to their low-lying nature and the potential for inundation and habitat loss.

Salt marshes are highly vulnerable to sea-level rise because they are typically located in low-lying coastal areas, making them prone to flooding and submergence as sea levels increase. The natural equilibrium may be upset and wildlife habitat lost if rising waters drown the marshes. Sea-level rise also affects rocky shorelines, wetlands, and coral reefs, but salt marshes are especially vulnerable since they are near the waterline and cannot migrate inland when sea levels rise, especially when coastal development blocks their path.