NEWS RELEASE
JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA
February 7, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VOLUNTEERS ASSIST WITH 32ND ANNUAL JEFFERSON PARISH COASTAL TREECYCLING EVENT
JEFFERSON, LA – On Saturday, Feb. 5, volunteers and officials from throughout Jefferson Parish and the region joined forces for the 32nd annual Jefferson Parish Coastal Treecycling Event in Lafitte, LA.
Volunteers placed approximately 2,800 donated Christmas trees into boats, transported the trees into an area surrounded by wetlands, and then placed the trees into pre-constructed wave dampening fences (cribs). Additionally, volunteers planted 700 bald cypress trees on the eastern side of The Pen near the cribs. Tree planting projects like these reduce land loss and prevent future coastal erosion. In Louisiana, approximately one football field of land is lost every 100 minutes.
Among the many volunteers, Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng, Council Chairman Ricky Templet and employees from the Ecosystem and Coastal Management, Emergency Management, Fire Services, East Bank Consolidated, and several Public Works departments attended this event to help increase public awareness of wetland losses.
“The people here each and every storm rallied together to fight for their homes and protect our homes, but at the same time, they’re protecting the rest of the area because this is where the storm surge gets broken down is in these marshland areas and our wetlands,” said Jefferson Parish Council Chairman Ricky Templet (Council At-Large, Division A).
This annual event continues to benefit the wetlands of Lafitte, which is located in the Barataria Basin, in the following ways:
- Absorbing and attenuating wave energy, thus reducing erosion
- Providing habitat and food for wildlife such as crustaceans, mollusks, birds, fish and reptiles
- Creating public awareness about wetland losses, solid waste issues and conservation of natural resources
“We’re so grateful for the volunteers, employees and community partners who recognize the importance of this project and graciously donated their time to help support Jefferson Parish’s efforts to protect our most vulnerable coastal communities,” added Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng.
Since 1991, more than 850,000 Christmas trees have been recycled, which if lined up, would stretch from New Orleans to Washington D.C. The trees, which were diverted from the Jefferson Parish landfill, have aided in the construction of 15,500 linear feet of shoreline wave-dampening fences. The Christmas trees were collected throughout unincorporated Jefferson Parish, Gretna, Harahan, Kenner, Lafitte and Westwego.
The boats for this event were provided by unincorporated and municipal fire and police departments, Jefferson Parish’s Ecosystem and Coastal Management Department, Plaquemines Parish’s Coastal Program, and individuals with a boat and a passion for protecting wetlands. This project would not have been a success without all the incredible volunteers who donated their valuable time and energy to this cause.
For more information about this project, visit www.jeffparish.net/coastal or call (504) 736-6719. For more information about Jefferson Parish, visit www.JeffParish.net. Residents can also receive regular updates by following the Parish on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@JeffParishGov) or by texting JPALERT or JPNOTICIAS to 888-777.
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Jefferson Parish Public Information Office 1221 Elmwood Park Boulevard, Suite 1002 Jefferson, LA 70123 |
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Gretchen Hirt Gendron, PIO |
