Louisiana Master Naturalists of Greater New Orleans

Fontainebleau State Park 1-5-2022 cypress tree seedlings planting

The St. Tammany Master Gardener Association, Delta Chapter/Honey Island Group - Sierra Club and the Louisiana Master Naturalists of Greater New Orleans have a joint project in Fontainebleau State Park to remove invasive plant species, increase the number of native plants and to beautify the park.

Winds from Hurricanes Zeta and Ida did significant damage to the forest at the park, with about 20% of the hardwood trees destroyed. After receiving a donation of over 400 cypress tree seedlings, the park manager, Fouad Harb, asked the three organizations for help in planting the trees as part of the park’s effort to recover from the hurricanes.

The leader of the effort reached out to the Louisiana Iris Conservation Initiative for assistance in organizing the event and they asked Common Ground Relief for help in finding volunteers. Both of these groups are active in replanting marsh and swamp restoration projects in Southeast Louisiana. Common Ground Relief is hosting twelve student-volunteers this week from the University of South Dakota that are in New Orleans for five days of service activities that will be participating in the tree planting. The Rotary Club of Mandeville learned of the planned volunteer event and asked to be include, too. After waiting over two months for the winter rains to begin, the tree seedlings are finally being planted on Wednesday, January 5th by volunteers from all of the organizations involved. This unique group of people of different ages, interests and backgrounds are coming together to get the trees planted. They will start work at noon and finish for 3 PM.

The public is also invited to participate.

Location: Fontainebleau State Park 62883 LA-1089, Mandeville, LA 70448 (The volunteers will meet near the beach picnic area.)

Date and time: Wednesday, January 5, 2022 noon until 3 PM.

Facebook event notice: https://www.facebook.com/licisaveirises/posts/243781207314918

General Directions: You do not have to pay the Park Entrance Fee, just say you are part of the Cypress planting to the check-in Ranger at the Entrance Station. From there carry on down the main road past the Sugar Mill Ruins that are on your right, around the Live Oak area that are on your left and down towards the beach area. The Fish Pond and Splash Pad Parking lot is on your right as you approach the beach area parking lot. That's where a base station will be set up for the volunteers.

More information:

Charlotte Clarke Common Ground Relief charlotte@commongroundrelief.org

Gary Salathe Louisiana Iris Conservation Initiative licisaveirises@gmail.com