Saving Our Salt Marshes: Why They Still Matter

Saving Our Salt Marshes: Why They Still Matter

More than fifty years ago, John and Mildred Teal’s landmark book Life and Death of the Salt Marsh transformed how scientists and communities understood coastal ecosystems. Their work helped inspire early efforts to protect these vital landscapes.

Today, salt marshes face their greatest challenge yet: rising seas.

Join scientists Neil Ganju, Rachel Jakuba, and Susan Teal, along with Buzzards Bay Coalition president Mark Rasmussen, for a panel conversation exploring why salt marshes remain essential to the health of our coastline—especially here on Martha’s Vineyard. These ecosystems protect shorelines, support marine life, and play a critical role in the Island’s environmental balance.

Panelists will reflect on what the Teals first revealed about salt marsh ecology, what has changed in the decades since, and what communities can do now to help these landscapes endure.

MVM Members: $15; Non-Members: $25

DETAILS


Date April 15, 2026
From 5:00 pm
To 6:00 pm
Type Talk
Venue Martha’s Vineyard Museum
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email collections@mvmuseum.org. Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.