A partnership between coastal advocates and private business is leading to the planting of 35,000 bald cypress in Terrebonne Parish Wetlands. Senior adviser to the Americas Wetlands Foundation Sidney Coffee says its part of a string of smaller projects.
Coffee says, "These are transitional projects that can help hold the line on salt water intrusion while the state's larger projects come online."
The trees have been grown to tolerate salt water, and Coffee says they have an additional layer included to protect them from a notorious menace.
Coffee says, "The nutria eat the bald cypresses because they'll eat just about anything."
Coffee says she hopes the success of this partnership will inspire more private companies to take an interest in saving the coastline.
Coffee expresses, "It's a win-win for everyone, and it's a great pathway to get the private sector to start investing in projects in partnership with MGOs."
The project is being taken on by the America’s Wetland Foundation, Resource Environmental Solutions, and BHP, whose funding the project.