Louisiana Coastal Restoration Effort Plants 30,000 Trees to Bolster Defenses

Community groups work to rebuild wetlands and forests to protect New Orleans from worsening storms

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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In Meraux, Louisiana, a coalition of environmental organizations has been working for the past four years to plant 30,000 native trees like bald cypress and water tupelo in the wetlands around New Orleans. The goal is to restore the natural barrier of forests and wetlands that was lost after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, in order to help shield the city from future storms and slow the rate of land loss. Volunteers have been ferrying supplies and planting saplings week after week, with the hope of seeing the trees fully grown in the coming years.

Why it matters

Much of the natural wetland and forest barrier around New Orleans was lost after Hurricane Katrina, which killed over 1,000 people and caused over $100 billion in damage in 2005. The subsequent construction of levees and a shipping channel allowed saltwater intrusion, killing many of the trees that had previously held the land in place. This tree-planting effort aims to restore that natural defense system and make the Louisiana coast more resilient to worsening storms driven by climate change.

The details

The tree-planting project is being led by a coalition of local environmental groups, including Common Ground Relief, the Meraux Foundation, the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, and the Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development. They have been using federal and state funding to plant the trees across multiple sites, with the goal of getting 30,000 fully grown trees established. The groups have been transporting volunteers by airboat to the planting sites, providing them with supplies and snacks to sustain the hard work. The trees being planted, like bald cypress and water tupelo, are native species that are well-suited to the local ecosystem and can help hold the soil in place as sea levels rise.

  • The tree-planting effort began around 2009, after the closure of the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet Canal (MRGO) which had allowed saltwater intrusion.
  • Over the past 4 years, the coalition has been working to plant the 30,000 trees across multiple sites around New Orleans.
  • The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana plans to complete their 15,000-tree quota by next year.

The players

Common Ground Relief

A local environmental organization working on the tree-planting project.

Meraux Foundation

A partner organization in the tree-planting effort, focused on coastal and environmental programs.

Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana

One of the largest groups involved, having planted around 10,000 of their 15,000-tree quota so far.

Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development

Another partner organization participating in the tree-planting project.

Blaise Pezold

The coastal and environmental program director for the Meraux Foundation, who has been involved in tree-planting efforts since around 2009.

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What they’re saying

“We're one part of a larger movement to resist this sort of 'doomerism' mindset, and to show that recovery is possible.”

— Christina Lehew, Executive Director, Common Ground Relief (ktar.com)

“In our wildest dreams we never thought we'd be able to plant some of the areas that we are now planting.”

— Blaise Pezold, Coastal and Environmental Program Director, Meraux Foundation (ktar.com)

“It still affects everybody that went through it, and … it changed us all. I mean, we had our lives ripped out from underneath us in a day.”

— Ashe Burke, Wetlands Restoration Specialist, Common Ground Relief (ktar.com)

“That brings a little bit of joy to my heart that they're actually inspired by what we're doing. So maybe they could come back or maybe they have some reason to live in New Orleans.”

— Rollin Black, Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development (ktar.com)

What’s next

The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana plans to complete their 15,000-tree quota by next year, bringing the overall project closer to its 30,000-tree goal.

The takeaway

This community-driven effort to restore the natural wetlands and forests around New Orleans represents a hopeful and proactive response to the threats posed by climate change and worsening storms. By replanting thousands of native trees, the coalition is working to rebuild the city's natural defenses and create a more resilient ecosystem for the future.