Today is International Day of Biological Diversity. There are few areas that depend on the natural bounty around them like southern Louisiana where there’s such a partnership between nature and culture. Dr. Alicia Renfro is a coastal scientist with Restore the Mississippi River Delta and says preserving the area’s waterways and wetlands is crucial moving forward.
Renfro emphasizes that over 3,000 acres of marsh land has been created in recent years, dredging sediment from the Lake Bourne area to rebuild the area’s marshes. She does note some impediments to coastal restoration, such as the Mississippi River being leveed, not allowing the sediment or water to flow into adjacent coastal wetlands.
Renfro points to organizations such as the Ponchartrain Conservancy as opportunities for concerned citizens to get involved with local restoration projects and help to protect Louisiana’s coast. She also says that Restore the Mississippi River Delta has an extensive list of ongoing projects and priorities for those who want to keep track of ongoing restoration news.
International Day of Biological Diversity hopes to highlight the plight of Louisiana's coast
International Day of Biological Diversity hopes to highlight the plight of Louisiana's coast
