Every Sunday I take a look at one of the world’s natural parks and examine some of the threats facing these areas. With Hurricane Gustav bearing down on Louisiana and the Gulf Coast, I am going to take a modest departure from my normal focus and instead turn to the destruction of Louisiana’s wetlands and bayous that have in the past served as a buffer of protection against the onslaught of devastating storms. With their destruction however, hurricanes come on shore with full force.
Louisiana’s 4,600 square miles of coastal wetlands are being lost at the rate about 35 square miles annually, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Two weeks ago, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal announced plans for more than $1 billion in coastal protection and restoration projects in Louisiana – the largest investment in coastal protection in Louisiana history. It’s a start.
For more information on the value of wetlands, please visit Save Our Wetlands.