wetland losses and gains estimates that global tidal flats experienced losses of 7,000 km2 between 1999 and 2019, which were largely offset by global gains of 6,700 km2 over the same time period.

In the past tidal flats were considered unhealthy, economically unimportant areas and were often dredged and developed into agricultural land. Some mudflats can be extremely treacherous to walk on. For example, the mudflats surrounding Anchorage, Alaska, are made from fine glacial-silt which does not