Louisiana Coastal Restoration Project Plants 30,000 Trees Over 4 Years

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

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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In the wetlands of coastal southeast Louisiana, conservation groups have completed a four-year project to plant 30,000 native trees like bald cypress and water tupelo. The goal is for the tree roots to hold the land in place as it sinks, create wildlife habitat, and help shield New Orleans from future storms. Much of the natural coastal barrier was lost after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and this reforestation effort is part of a larger movement to restore the region's ecosystems.

Why it matters

The loss of Louisiana's coastal wetlands and forests has left New Orleans increasingly vulnerable to hurricanes and storm surges. This tree-planting project aims to rebuild a natural barrier that can help protect the city, while also restoring important wildlife habitats that were degraded over decades of development and environmental damage.

The details

Over the past four years, dozens of volunteers have worked with conservation groups like Common Ground Relief and the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana to plant 30,000 trees across multiple sites in the wetlands near Lake Borgne. The groups used federal and state funding to spread their efforts across different areas, employing various planting techniques. The closing of the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet Canal in 2009, which had allowed saltwater intrusion, has helped make some previously inhospitable areas viable for reforestation.

  • The tree-planting project began around 2018 and is wrapping up in 2022.
  • The Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet Canal was shut down in 2009 to cut off saltwater intrusion.

The players

Common Ground Relief

A local environmental organization working on the coastal restoration project.

Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana

One of the largest groups involved in the tree-planting effort, aiming to plant 15,000 trees.

Meraux Foundation

A partner organization that has been planting trees in the area since around 2009.

Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development

Another partner organization involved in the tree-planting project.

Ashe Burke

The wetlands restoration specialist for Common Ground Relief, who experienced Hurricane Katrina as a child.

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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 (Los Angeles Times)

“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 (Los Angeles Times)

“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 (Los Angeles Times)

“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 (Los Angeles Times)

What’s next

The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana plans to complete planting its remaining 5,000 trees by next year, wrapping up the overall 30,000-tree goal.

The takeaway

This large-scale reforestation effort in coastal Louisiana demonstrates the potential for restoring natural ecosystems to help protect communities from the impacts of climate change and extreme weather. By rebuilding wetlands and forests, the project aims to strengthen the region's resilience and provide long-term benefits for both the environment and the people who call this area home.