Newswise — This year, instead of partying on a beach somewhere, more than 300 students from 17 colleges across the U.S. will spend their Spring Break restoring wildlife habitat damaged by Hurricane Katrina. These young volunteers will descend on Louisiana from 16 states to plant trees, remove invasive species, and build nesting boxes for birds—all while gaining an appreciation for one of the nation's most productive ecosystems. The project is sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation.
"They're coming from the east coast, the west coast, the midwest, from big state universities, tiny liberal arts colleges, and everything in between," said Rebecca Triche, Senior Coordinator for the National Wildlife Federation's Coastal Louisiana Habitat Restoration Initiative. "The dedication and enthusiasm of these young people is incredible."
Hurricane Katrina knocked down thousands of trees, blew in debris, and scoured vegetation from large areas of coastal wetlands. The damage to wildlife habitat was significant.
Since the hurricane, invasive species such as Chinese Tallow and Cat's Claw have taken advantage of the opened forest canopy and spread quickly, choking out native trees and plants.
The students will remove these invasives and replant areas where large numbers of trees were destroyed by high winds.
"These coastal ecosystems are incredibly resilient, but they need our help right now," said Triche. "It's gratifying that hundreds of students are choosing to spend their vacations with us, restoring Louisiana's forests and wetlands. What they are doing will permanent difference to the wildlife that depend on these habitats."
Volunteers also will construct and install nest boxes for wood ducks and other birds that normally nest in cavities found in older trees.
"Coastal wetland forests normally support a large population of wood ducks," said Randy Lanctot, executive director of the Louisiana Wildlife Federation, which is providing logistical support for the project. "Katrina's winds toppled the trees that wood ducks depend on for nesting sites. With these nest boxes, the students will create alternative 'housing' for these handsome birds while the forests recover."
Money for the Louisiana Project comes from a special fund created by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to help with habitat recovery in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
The Coastal Louisiana Habitat Restoration Initiative aims to enlist 2,500 volunteers to contribute 65,000 hours of volunteer labor repairing hurricane damage to Louisiana's wildlife habitat.
The students are coming from seventeen different colleges and universities: Oberlin College, St. Olaf College, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, University of Milwaukee, University of Texas-Pan Am, Northern Illinois University, Vassar College, University of Vermont, University of Pittsburgh, University of North Carolina - Wilmington, American University, Dillard University, Wright State University, Kennesaw State University, University of Virginia, Portland Community College, and Los Angeles Valley College.
"It's going to be hard work," said Triche. "But spending spring break restoring one of the most productive ecosystems on earth is an experience these students will never forget."
The National Wildlife Federation's mission is to inspire Americans to protect wildlife for our children's future.
RSS