TOEFL Reading Sentence Simplification

Coastal wetlands are areas where land and water meet, including marshes, mangrove forests and tidal flats. For many years, some cities viewed these landscapes as empty or unhealthy spaces that should be drained for development. More recently, scientists have emphasized that wetlands provide services that engineered structures cannot easily replace. One important function is storm protection. Wetland plants slow moving water, and their roots help hold soil in place. Although a wetland cannot stop every flood, it can reduce wave energy before water reaches roads, houses or seawalls. This effect is strongest when the wetland is wide enough and remains connected to the tides. Wetlands also store carbon in waterlogged soils. Because plant material decomposes slowly when oxygen is limited, carbon can remain buried for long periods. However, if wetlands are drained or converted to farmland, stored carbon may be released into the atmosphere. Protecting wetlands therefore has both local and global environmental value. Restoration projects are not simple. Replanting vegetation may fail if water flow has been blocked by roads or channels. In some places, managers must first restore tidal movement before plants can survive. Community support is also important because restored wetlands may look muddy or unfinished while they are recovering. As sea levels rise, the future of wetlands will depend on whether they can move inland. If buildings or roads prevent that movement, wetlands may be squeezed between higher water and fixed development. Planners increasingly describe this problem as a conflict between natural adaptation and human land use.