Woodlands Conservancy
[2020 UPDATE]
Woodlands Conservancy is a nonprofit land trust organization working to protect and restore remaining forested wetlands and other ecologically significant lands in Louisiana. We manage the 650-acre Woodlands Trail that is located at 449 F. Edward Hebert Blvd. in Belle Chasse. Woodlands Trail provides over 10 miles of trails for hiking and horseback riding that are free and open to the public. This bottomland hardwood coastal forest passes along edge communities that are a home for wildlife and migratory birds. The trails lead to a grouping of 10 WWII ammunition magazines.
Amidst Covid 19: The Woodlands Trail remains open from dawn to dusk. The expanses of trails allow you to follow CDC recommendations for social distancing while getting a break from feeling cooped up. Join us on Facebook Live for Thirsty Thursday’s Virtual activities at 4 p.m. Woodlands Conservancy staff and interns are developing program activities that can be done on your own or with your family members. Join our Newsletter to get activities to do with your children at Woodlands Trail or in your own backyard or neighborhood park.
Protect and Restore.
Woodlands Conservancy protects and restores forested wetlands that serve as a natural sponge to absorb stormwater and provide a wind buffer to protect the surrounding community during storm events. They own the 190 acre Delacroix Preserve in Orleans Parish and manage 650 acres in Plaquemines Parish known as Woodlands Trail. Woodlands Conservancy has conducted restoration work on over 500 acres of these two properties to remove non-native, invasive species and reforest with over 14,000 native trees.
They were founded in 2001 to promote smart growth and preserve low-lying forested wetlands for habitat for wildlife, storm protection and the provision of a unique wilderness recreation opportunity. In 2015, the Plaquemines Parish Council supported selling a portion of the 650 acre Woodlands Trail property for the development of 25+ baseball fields for traveling teams. Woodlands Conservancy successfully rallied their supporters and have since obtained the Plaquemines Parish Government's support by the passing of a resolution to support selling the entire acreage to the organization.
Hundreds of millions of birds cross the gulf each year and travel along the Mississippi Flyway with 2.5 million stopping daily in Louisiana to feed and rest. Woodlands Conservancy’s managed properties provide habitat for several species of Conservation Concern per Louisiana’s comprehensive wildlife conservation strategy, the Wildlife Action Plan, and several species of Continental Importance according to Partners in Flight. USFWS reports that with the continuing loss of our wetlands in combination with relative sea level rise, the Woodlands Conservancy lands will be one of the largest forested land masses between open water and the city of New Orleans within the next 35-50 years. The value of this habitat for migratory birds makes it imperative that we preserve, restore and enhance the habitat within our few remaining coastal forests and educate our children of their value in order to foster their development as environmental stewards of the lands their children will inherit.
Raising $1000 could help fund replacement of trailhead signage. Raising $2,000 would help expand the nursery to grow out more seedlings and trees for forest restoration activities. Raising $5,000 would provide funding to work with 32 students throughout the school year. They hope to improve the 10 miles of trails and repair bridges at Woodlands Trail and develop an interpretive center to allow them to expand educational opportunities to teach others of the function and value of forested wetlands.
Support Woodlands Conservancy today through their Screens for Good campaign.