Louisiana’s Battle Against Storms: 30,000 Trees Planted in 4 Years to Strengthen Coast

In the tranquil waters near Lake Borgne, behind a pumping facility, hundreds of young trees enveloped in white protective tubes rise from the mist.

Organizers have been transporting groups of volunteers to this site and others like it using airboats, equipped with a trailer full of necessary supplies. They provide rubber boots of various sizes and bins laden with snacks to refuel the volunteers after their strenuous efforts.

The vision is to one day see 30,000 mature trees, including species like bald cypress and water tupelo, thriving in these areas. These trees are intended to stabilize the soil around New Orleans as the city continues to sink below sea level. Additionally, they aim to provide habitat for wildlife and fortify the city’s defenses against storms.

These natural barriers were significantly diminished following Hurricane Katrina, which in 2005 claimed over 1,000 lives and inflicted damages exceeding $100 billion. Since then, numerous efforts have been underway to restore this critical ecosystem. As these long-term restoration initiatives near completion, spearheaded by local environmental groups, participants are reflecting on the robust ecosystem they have cultivated—a stark contrast to the deteriorated marshes they began with.

“We are just one part of a broader effort to combat the defeatist attitude towards environmental degradation, and to demonstrate that recovery is achievable,” explains Christina Lehew, executive director of one of the involved organizations. “Although it’s unlikely we’ll fully recapture the vast wetlands of the past, we are making significant progress in reclaiming some of what was lost.”

Collaborative Efforts to Re-green Wetlands

In various spots around New Orleans, mature cypress trees now tower over dense undergrowth of native plants, showcasing the potential of restoration efforts and what could be replicated elsewhere.

Long before the advent of the logging and oil and gas industries, and before levees were built to control the Mississippi River, the Delta region naturally fluctuated with the river’s floods, which deposited rich sediments along the Gulf Coast. This dynamic ecosystem supported a variety of plant life that created protective estuaries.

However, the devastating Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 breached levees at numerous points, resulting in widespread destruction and loss of life. This led to an era of extensive levee construction. By the mid-1960s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had also constructed the Mississippi River—Gulf Outlet Canal (MRGO), which disastrously funneled Hurricane Katrina’s storm surge directly into New Orleans. These engineering choices not only altered the landscape but also introduced saltwater into freshwater ecosystems, killing many trees and leaving the city vulnerable to future storms.

In 2009, the MRGO was closed to prevent further saltwater intrusion, prompting environmental groups to begin reforestation projects. About five years ago, several organizations consolidated their efforts to secure federal and state funds for a larger initiative. By distributing two substantial grants among different groups, employing various planting methodologies across diverse locations, they are inching closer to planting 30,000 trees. One of the largest groups has already planted about 10,000 of its 15,000-tree target and expects to complete its goal by next year, according to Andrew Ferris, senior coordinator for their native plants program.

“We never imagined we’d be able to restore some of the areas we are now working on,” said Blaise Pezold, who began his tree-planting journey around 2009 and is now a coastal and environmental program director. “Initially, these areas were deemed too saline, too damaged by Katrina, or simply too inaccessible. But the closure of the MRGO and the subsequent reduction in saltwater levels have allowed us to be more adventurous in our site selection,” Pezold added.

Healing Through Restoration

For many Louisiana locals involved in these restoration efforts, the project serves as a way to process the trauma of past natural disasters.

Ashe Burke, a wetlands restoration specialist, recalls Hurricane Katrina striking right after his eighth birthday. “It’s a day that has left a lasting impact on everyone involved… it fundamentally changed us. Despite the pain that remains, we recognize the importance of moving forward, with each new day bringing hope,” he said.

Rollin Black, who is part of one of the tree-planting organizations and has family ties to New Orleans, sees environmental restoration as a proactive response to ongoing challenges. He finds hope in the enthusiasm of younger volunteers. “Seeing their inspiration and potential commitment to New Orleans fills me with joy. It gives them, and perhaps future generations, a reason to cherish and remain in this city,” he added.