Christmas trees protect La. marshes

Southeastern Louisiana University along with the parishes of Jefferson, Orleans and St. Tammany want your discarded Christmas trees for use in multiple marsh and wetlands restoration projects across the southern part of the state. The trees provide protection against shoreline erosion, dissipation of wave action, sediment build-up; and to create new habitats for animals and plants. The trees work at “reducing the waste stream going into landfills," said Rob Moreau, manager of SLU's Turtle Cove Environmental Research Station located on Pass Manchac between lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas. In St. Tammany, the trees are being used for coastal restoration efforts in the Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge near Lacombe. In Jefferson, trees have been used in projects within the Jean Lafitte area and in Orleans with projects in the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge. (Source: NOLA.com 12/28/17)