Woodlands Conservancy actively works to preserve and restore its 840-acres of managed forested wetlands. 

There is no better time than the present to help stop the loss of coastal wetland forests. These forests serve as a natural sponge to absorb storm water run-off, provide a wind buffer to protect our homes and businesses, and serve as a habitat corridor for resident wildlife and migratory birds. It is important that we preserve and protect our remaining forested wetland for future generations.

Please consider helping Woodlands Conservancy in our important mission of protecting our environment by contributing to our Conservation and Habitat Fund.

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2024-2025 FOREST RESTORATION PARTNERS

• APACHE CORPORATION
• BARATARIA TERREBONNE NATIONAL ESTUARY
• CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY CHANNEL ISLANDS
• CPRA
• NRCS
• PARTNERSHIP FOR GULF COAST LAND CONSERVATION

RESTORATION ACTIIVITIES PLANNED FOR 2024-2025

In Fall 2024, we will be preparing open canopy sites within the Woodlands Preserve for winter plantings. We have 5,000 seedlings arriving in December for our winter restoration activities. Additionally, thanks to Apache Corporation’s Tree Grant Program, we will be receiving 200, 3-gallon size trees to plant in our restoration sites. We are excited to be able to plant a mix of older and younger trees to keep a diverse age structure within the forest.

In addition to preparing sites for planting, we plan to conduct a 3rd application of selective herbicides targeting any residual non-native trees from previous treatments and any non-native trees/vegetation emerging from the seedbank.

Want to help restore our forested wetlands? You can volunteer as an individual or arrange a volunteer work day for your organization or workplace

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2023-2024 FOREST RESTORATION PARTNERS

• APACHE CORPORATION
• CPRA
• CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY CHANNEL ISLANDS
• CHEVRON ORONITE
• EPA
• PARTNERSHIP FOR GULF COAST LAND CONSERVATION
• TC ENERGY

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If you have been along either of the hiking trails in Woodlands Conservancy, you have likely seen two new Chronolog stands.  These platforms are photo tools that were installed thanks to a donation by the TC Energy Foundation, in an effort to help Woodlands Conservancy monitor ongoing restoration projects.

Chronolog on North Trail – near first bridge

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Chronolog on Upland Trail

Chronolog – JD#2 Restoration Site

Chronolog – Woo-104

If you are interested in joining in this restoration monitoring in Woodlands Preserve, you can find one Chronolog along our North Trail, just over the first walking bridge.  There is a second Chronolog along the Upland Trail.  Two more Chronologs will be installed in the preserve in coming months.

RESTORE: Gulf of Mexico Conservation Enhancement Grant

In October 2021, Woodlands Conservancy received a two-year RESTORE: Gulf of Mexico Conservation Enhancement Grant administered through EPA. The grant funded the opportunity to remove invasive vegetation on 840-acres, reforest two 10-acre plots with native trees and seedlings, evaluate forest restoration efforts through vegetation assessments and bird surveys. After targeting non-native, invasive trees on the 650-acre Woodlands Preserve property, many invasive trees that were successfully treated died and fell leaving open canopy areas in the forest. These open canopy areas became over-grown with briars and vines making navigation through the forest a major challenge. Access to the open canopy areas was necessary to remove fallen trees and prepare the areas for reforestation. We applied and were successful in receiving a supplemental award along with an extension of that grant to work on preparing the forest for future restoration activities. That work was completed on February 29, 2024. Below are links to a Final Report of the project and Data gathered and evaluated during the project.

Restoration and Enhancement of Habitat for Resident and Migratory Birds in the Barataria Basin

• PROGRESS REPORT
• BIRD DATA
• VEGETATION DATA

2022 Progress Report

The information in the following video shows a review of our early forest restoration work and the project’s goals and as well as progress toward reaching those goals as of May, 2022.

Background

Prior to Hurricane Katrina and Rita, three woody, non-native invasive species from Asia, Chinese Tallow, Chinese Privet and Chinaberry were concentrated along stand edges and along canopy openings associated with trails at Woodlands Trail and Park. These invasive species were originally introduced into the Gulf Coast area several decades ago. Volunteers worked diligently to hand remove smaller invaders.

Following Hurricane Katrina and Rita’s damage to 80 – 90% of the forest canopy, the invasive species have expanded exponentially. Without aggressive eradication measures, we face a high likelihood that these invaders will continue to penetrate further into the forest and within a decade may dominate the entirety of the forest. Such an invader-dominated forest would have vastly reduced storm buffering and hydrological entrainment functions relative to the pre-Katrina  forest and would provide reduced quality habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife.

In 2007, Woodlands Conservancy, in partnership with California State University Channel Islands and Oregon State University, initiated systematic assessment, treatment and post-treatment methodology to remove invasive species and reforest with tree species to restore native habitat (see below). They have since been joined in their efforts to study and remove invasives by professors and students from Tulane and UNO.

In 2009 Woodlands Conservancy began actively treating for invasive species and replanting with native plants. Efforts to intensify invasive removal have been intensified in the past 5 years and we are moving into a replanting phase across ~65 acres of habitat.

In 2013 Woodlands began working with local K-12 students and the Brown Foundation to do a service learning program called Seeds to Saplings.  Students have assisted in planting some of the 14,000+ saplings involved in restoring the forest. 

 In 2016 Woodlands received grants from the Barrataria Terrebonne National Estuary Foundation and the NOLA Tree Project for the purchase of several hundred native trees and understory shrubs. These plants will go a long way towards filling gaps where invasives have been removed and restoring the quality of the forest habitat.

In 2017 and 2018 efforts to restore the forest with native seedlings has continued in addition to the ongoing tracking of progress through vegetation assessments and monthly bird banding.

To date, over 500 acres comprising four treatment plots have been treated on one to five occasions to restore sections of the forest.  We have begun to reforest treated plots with several thousand native seedlings and trees.  Camera data already shows increased wildlife in restored areas.

In Dec- March of 2020, we will be planting several hundred native trees and shrubs across parts of Woodlands Trail and Delacroix Preserve as part of our continuing reforestation efforts.  If you are interested in volunteering to help plant trees see our volunteer page!

CSUCI & OSU Conduct Vegetation Surveys 

2023 marked the 17th year that California State University Channel Islands & Oregon State University came to New Orleans to work with Woodlands Conservancy.  The group conducts annual assessments of native and non-native vegetation at Woodlands Trail and Delacroix Preserve to evaluate restoration work conducted to improve the habitat for wildlife and migratory birds.   Students from CSUCI with a firm background in environmental science work side by side with OSU Horticulture students to record data on the frequency and density of native and non-native vegetation on both areas treated for removal as well as areas that have not been treated.

 

• WoodlandsTrail-Invasives & Birds 
• WoodlandsTrail Hurricane Effects 
• WoodlandsTrail-Hurricane Impact

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