Sponsored Projects and Initiatives
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LSU Coastal Roots Program The Coastal Roots Program provides an active learning situation in which students can explore strategies for sustaining coastal ecosystems and develop an attitude of stewardship toward natural resources. The Coastal Roots Program began in 2001 with six schools. Today it is active in 18 schools in ten parishes and every year impacts 750 students in grades four through 12. The program integrates into elementary science, middle school life and earth sciences, and high school biology and environmental science. Other school groups such as environmental clubs and 4-H clubs also participate. Between 2001 and 2007, nearly 2,000 students planted 18,000 plants on 57 estoration planting trips.
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To request a copy of the Coastal Roots brochure, contact the Office of Public Affairs at abrous2@lsu.edu.
Work Plan |
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• Seed preparation, planting, and germination of seeds - 1,000 plants (winter and early spring)
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Schools are matched with a specific restoration site to allow site managers to work with schools to (1) select appropriate plants needed for habitat restoration programs at the site, and (2) educate students about ecological restoration needs of the site.
Long term restoration site partners include the Louisiana Office of State Parks and the Terrebonne Levee & Conservation District.
The Coastal Roots Program assists in the installation and maintenance of can yards in schools that participate in the program. A can yard is a nursery production area where plants are raised until they are large enough to be moved to their final planting location.
Plants have included black mangrove, southern wax myrtle, hackberry, red mulberry, southern bald cypress, live oak, bitter panicum, smooth cord grass, swamp red maple, and loblolly and longleaf pine.
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Objectives |
| • Conduct an on-going, school-based nursery program growing native plants • Involve students in hands-on habitat restoration planting • Provide teachers and students with information on issues such as ecological stewardship, wetlands functions & values, wetland loss, habitat restoration & conservation, and basic geoscience and horticultural skills |
Faculty
Ed Bush, Ph. D.
David Bourgeois
Projects and Initiatives | Sponsored Programs | College of Education Highlights
