Thanks to a three-year grant from the USDA Forest Service and support from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, The Nature Conservancy has launched Treesilience in Louisiana. The Louisiana Treesilience Program (LTP) represents a collaborative initiative designed to address the barriers to resilient canopy in frontline communities located in Louisiana’s southeastern and southwestern parishes hit hardest by the 2020 and 2021 storm seasons.
 
Hurricanes taking place in 2020 and 2021, especially Hurricane Laura and Hurricane Ida (both Category 4 storms and some of the strongest to make landfall in Louisiana) caused billions of dollars in damage in a 22-parish region that includes New Orleans, Lake Charles, Houma, Thibodaux and other smaller communities. Some of that damage included a massive loss of forest canopy, a key front-line defense for urban areas in the face of severe weather.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Louisiana Treesilience program and how your community might benefit, contact Amanda Takacs at [email protected]. Or use the form below!

treesilience in action

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In West Park in DeRidder, LA, 25 large trees were installed via tree spade to replace the hundreds lost to hurricanes creating instant new urban canopy. Additionally, 10 dying and hazardous trees are being removed to prepare for future storms.
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At the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana's Ranch in Sulphur, LA 3 - 10" diameter Southern Live Oak Trees were planted. Additionally, hazardous trees are being removed and 27 smaller trees are being planted to create more resilient canopy throughout the facility.

TREESILIENCE IN LOUISIANA STATE PARKS

Treesilience Louisiana is also working closely with Louisiana State Parks to restore native habitats and canopy in several state parks across the state that were damaged in hurricanes.

Sam Houston Jones State Park
Currently, 17 acres of forested land is being prepared for Longleaf Pine restoration.  The area is being cleared of understory vegetation and prepared for longleaf plantings this winter.

Fairview-Riverside State Park
At this popular camping destination, over 80 trees wereplanted amongst the recreational areas to restore lost canopy and help shelter campers from the sun and elements.
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Site preparation at Sam Houston Jones State Park for Longleaf Pine Restoration
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Open campground area at Fairview-Riverside State Park that will recieve trees through LA Treesilience.

    Contact us to learn more 

community focus

Treesilience funding in Louisiana is focused on public lands in urban areas where community trees make a large impact on neighborhood health and wellness.  Municipalities, parishes, schools, HOA's and others which oversee public lands are encouraged to apply. 
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©Devan King/TNC
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We Hosted an Urban Forest Climate Resilience Workshop in October 2024 in Baton Rouge, LA through additional funding from the USDA Forest Service.



Check out the links below to watch the session videos and learn more about how to prepare your urban forests for our future changing climate.

Session 1
What to Expect: Future Climate Impacts on Our Urban Trees (Amanda Takacs)

Session 2
Factors that Contribute to Tree Failure in Tropical Storms (Andrew Koeser, Ph.D.) ​ 

Session 3
BREC’s Connected Environments: Imagine Your Parks 3 (Reed Richard)

Session 4
Smart Solutions for Resilient Urban Forests: Leveraging Technology for a Sustainable Urban Forest (Joshua Behounek)  

Session 5 
Readiness, Response and Recovery: Managing Trees With Storms in Mind (Darren Green)

Session 6
Rebuilding After the Storm - Restoration Pruning for Storm-Damaged Trees (Andrew Koeser, Ph.D.) 

Check back for future education and outreach opportunities!
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