LSU Coastal Roots Program Works with Schools for Fall Plantings

The LSU Coastal Roots Program led students from schools across Louisiana to plant bald cypress seedlings at wetlands areas.

The plants used in this restoration effort have been raised in on-campus school can yards. A “can yard” is an area where plants are raised until they are large enough to be moved to their final planting location. The students transplanted half of their seedlings; the remaining half were re-potted into one gallon containers while they grow larger and stronger before they are moved to the park next year.

The LSU 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 middle school life and earth sciences, and high school biology and environmental science into elementary 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 habitat restoration planting trips.

The LSU Coastal Roots Program originated as an education outreach project for the Louisiana Sea Grant College Program. In 2006, it transitioned into the LSU Department of Educational Theory, Policy, and Practice and the LSU Center for Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences.