| Bringing Nature Back to Audubon Nature Center |
On January 18, 2008 over 150 local and national volunteers participated in a community-based habitat restoration project at the Louisiana Audubon Nature Center to begin the restoration of natural wetland forests, including bald cypress swamps, damaged during Hurricane Katrina. Working with the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL), the Audubon Nature Institute, Restore America’s Estuaries (RAE) and Entergy, volunteers planted over 600 trees covering five acres.
The planting and invasive species removal will help revive a degraded forest, provide a seed base for natural restoration, improve fish and wildlife habitat, and educate volunteers about the region's coastal land loss issues. |
| The project is part of a national partnership between Entergy Corporation, Restore America’s Estuaries, and the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana. Since 2006, Entergy Corporation and Restore America's Estuaries have worked together to address and collaboratively work on coastal habitat issues on the Gulf coast. “We are really excited to see how much progress has been made because of this unique partnership,” said Jeff Benoit, President of Restore America’s Estuaries. “We are proud to work side-by-side with Entergy Corporation and the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana to protect and restore critical coastal habitat in Louisiana.”
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In 2007 Entergy and Restore America's Estuaries formalized their national partnership, and Entergy has committed financial funds and volunteer hours to several on-the ground restoration projects in coastal Louisiana, working with the local RAE member group, the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana.
“The coastal wetlands of Louisiana are vitally important to the safety, well-being and quality of life in the region Entergy serves. Seeing so many volunteers come together to help restore the natural wetland forests in the Audubon Louisiana Nature Center is heartening and symbolizes the spirit of rebirth and recovery that is so important to our community,” said Brent Dorsey, Entergy’s director of corporate environmental programs. |
The local sponsor for this planting, the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, is a non-profit organization with a broad-based membership of individuals, businesses, civic, conservation, and religious organizations dedicated to the protection and restoration of a sustainable coastal Louisiana. The Coalition has worked closely with the Audubon Nature Institute to organize the event at the Audubon Louisiana Nature Center. “We are committed to the restoration and protection of our coast, including the metro New Orleans area. This event is another opportunity for partners to work with volunteers to restore an important ecosystem,” said Coalition Executive Director Mark Ford. “We really appreciate the involvement of volunteers, without whom these restoration events would not be possible.”
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Prior to Hurricane Katrina, the Audubon Louisiana Nature Center was named one of the top five urban nature centers in the United States. The Nature Center was an interactive facility dedicated to discovering the wonders of the natural world and bringing them to people of all ages. The Nature Center offered visitors a unique opportunity to come face-to-face with the local environment. Since Hurricane Katrina, the Audubon Louisiana Nature Center has not reopened to the public. This event is the beginning of the restoration of the entire facility.
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| “Audubon Nature Institute’s mission is to celebrate the wonders of nature. The volunteer commitment to this replanting project demonstrates an awareness of the important relationship between coastal restoration and our communities and way of life," said Audubon Nature Institute President and CEO Ron Forman. "We are grateful for the commitment of the Coalition volunteers.” |
| The Nature Center suffered considerable damage from Hurricane Katrina which devastated its interpretive center, exhibits and natural forests. The 86 acres of bottomland hardwoods and bald cypress-tupelo swamp were crippled not only by Katrina’s hurricane force winds but by several micro bursts (mini tornadoes) and a storm surge of approximately 10 to 12 feet. The swamps were inundated with muddy saltwater for nearly a month and an estimated 75 percent of the forest was destroyed. The Nature Center has not reopened to the public since August 2005 and the resident and migrant wildlife that flourished in this area have yet to return in large numbers. |
| The funding provided by Entergy allowed the Audubon Nature Institute to start revitalizing acres of wetland forests as part of a master plan to restore this community fixture for the people of New Orleans. Volunteers received an educational view of the effect saltwater intrusion has on our coastal wetland forests, and assisted in the restoration of these important coastal habitats. The plantings included various species of hardwoods, including but not limited to bald cypress (Taxodium distichum), tupelo (Nyssa aquatica), Drummond red maple (Acer rubra var. drummondii) and ash (Fraxinus spp.) as well as various species of herbaceous and shrub-scrub wetland species. In addition to the plantings, volunteers helped reduce the intrusion of Chinese tallow tree (Sapium sebiferum) which was a hindrance before the storm, but has grown into a huge problem and impedes the growth of natural vegetation. Volunteers also assisted in the removal of debris and slash material. |
Other sponsors contributing to this effort include Adjusters International, Community Coffee, and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.
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