Project Summary

1. Project ID
Name	An accelerated program of woody plant species selection for conservation, restoration, and neotropical habitat enhancement
Region	Gulf of Mexico Region
State	LA
Location
Date of this update	9/7/00

2. Problem(s) addressed (check one or more)
Habitat Restoration/Protection
Wetlands
River systems
Beaches/Dunes
Offshore areas
Mangroves
Assisting Species at Risk
Pollution Mitigation
Non-Point Source Pollution
Other (describe)

3. Project description (100 words or less)

Coastal erosion and wetland deterioration are serious and widespread problems affecting Louisiana's coastal zone. With coastal wetland losses of 16,000 to 20,000 acres per year, the long term social, environmental, and economic consequences will deprive not only Louisiana, but the Gulf of Mexico Region and the nation as a whole of vitally important fish, wildlife, and other wetland-related economic and environmental benefits.

Louisiana's coastal wetlands value is often measured in terms such as storm protection, fisheries landings, oil and gas infrastructure protection, and recreation. Statistics however, only begin to suggest the importance of Louisiana's coastal wetland ecosystem and the extent of modern damage. To a significant segment of wildlife, migratory birds and waterfowl for example, Louisiana's coastal wetlands and barrier islands are a prodigiously productive system that overwinter as much as 66% of the migratory birds that use the Mississippi Flyway. In addition, barrier islands, bay islands, and other coastal environments are critically important habitats for neotropical migrants that depend on Louisiana's coastal marshes for summer breeding, winter foraging, and stopover along their spring and fall migration routes.

Currently, there is an accelerated initiative to restore Louisiana's barrier islands and other outer-marsh habitats. To date, most of the barrier islands have undergone some level of restoration and to a limited extent revegetation. Plantings following restoration, however, typically consist primarily of grass species and are resulting in monocultures with minimal wildlife value. There is little information available for the selection, propagation, and establishment of woody plants applicable to highly disturbed soils. Consequently, most restored sites will continue to lack plant species diversity and therefore, have limited wildlife habitat value.

The objectives of this project match several of the action plans identified in the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program's (BTNEP) Comprehensive Conservation & Management Plan (CCMP). The two action plans most affected by this project are Preservation and Restoration of Barrier Islands (EM5) and Protection of Habitat for Migratory and Resident Birds (EM15). This project will be done through an agreement between BTNEP and Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). The agreement will take advantage of NRCS expertise, equipment, facilities, and personnel. The Louisiana's Plant Materials Program run by NRCS is divided into two initiatives, coastal wetland restoration and delta-upland conservation. The initiatives focus on developing new information and increasing landowner conservation efforts on the land using plants and plant materials. This project would be an extension of Plant Materials Program that include the woody species of plants.

4. Goals/Benefits (quantify where possible using measures of success list) Was a cost-benefit study conducted for this project? yes/no If yes, provide a summary of findings.

PROPOSAL OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this proposal are to implement an accelerated program to develop woody plant species technology; to provide plant species information to coastal wetland managers; and, to demonstrate methods for improving plant species diversity and consequently improved wildlife habitat. Elements of this proposal are to:

1. Identify, select, propagate, and test woody plant species that have wildlife value and are applicable to specialized coastal habitat such as barrier islands, dedicated sediment, restored marsh, and spoil disposal sites;
2. Produce select plant materials for field trials and other demonstration sites; and,
3. Assist in the development and implementation of advancing the knowledge base through a program of publications, demonstrations, and information exchange.

5. Partners (include each participant's responsibilities - funding, permitting, etc.)

6. Funding/Contributions (organization and amount)

Cash

Federal

Non Federal

State government
Local government
Private industry
Public interest groups

Total


In-Kind Services (hours, equipment, or other forms of assistance and estimated dollar value)

Volunteers (number of people and hours, and estimated dollar value)

7. Legislative authorities used by each participant

8. Value added by Coastal America Partnership including Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) goals achieved through this collaboration (500 words or less)

9. Project Status

• Initiation date:
• Completion date:
• Current stage: (Initiated - I, Underway - U or Completed - C)

10. Contacts

11. Any additional information/comments