America's Wetland Foundation

New law expands La. coastal zone

By: Amy Wold, Advocate

With the signing of Act 588 Tuesday by Gov. Bobby Jindal, the official definition of the Coastal Zone Boundary for Louisiana has been expanded.

Don't shortchange Louisiana's wetlands: An editorial

By: Editorial Staff, Times-Picayune

Requiring developers who destroy wetlands to offset the loss by restoring them elsewhere is critical to the environment -- especially for a state like Louisiana, which is fighting to rebuild its imperiled coast.

Three locals honored for their coastal advocacy work

By: Nikki Buskey, Houma Today

Three local people were honored for a lifetime of work advocating for and protecting Louisiana’s coast and its residents. Houma engineer Clifford Smith and David and Sharon Gauthe of Thibodaux, founders of the multi-faith community nonprofit BISCO, were honored last week with the America’s Wetland Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Forum starts conversation on managing Mississippi

By: Amy Wold, Advocate

The Mississippi River needs to be managed differently if it’s going to continue to meet the nation’s needs, according to speakers at The Big River Works Leadership Forum on Thursday.

New Orleans and region face greater threat from future hurricanes, studies warn

By: John Snell, Fox 8 WVUE

Since the early 1980's, Matherne's company has offered air boat tours in the fresh water marsh southwest of New Orleans, treating tourists to both a thrilling ride and a chilling lesson about coastal erosion.

DukeEngage attends AWF Conference

By: DukeEngage

DukeEngage empowers students to address critical human needs through immersive service, in the process transforming students, advancing the University’s educational mission, and providing meaningful assistance to communities in the U.S. and abroad. Students each year participate in a vast range of civic engagement activities, including environmental advocacy, community outreach, global health, education, social justice and more.

Wetlands Group Focusing on Mississippi River

By: Eileen Fleming, WWNO

After more than a decade of coordinating coastal concerns of five Gulf states, the America’s Wetland Foundation is looking north. The group will be heading as far north as Minnesota to study how best to use the Mississippi River that feeds the Delta.

No Time To Waste: For the Gulf Coast, the storm is already here

By: Randy Davis, Press Register

Every spring, prior to the June 1 opening of hurricane season, experts predict the number and strength of storms to come. But for Gulf Coast residents, the storm is already here. The embattled coast faces rising sea levels, coastal erosion, an insurance crisis and ongoing natural and man made disasters. The 12 million coastal residents caught in this storm are endangered because the ecosystems and economies supporting our livelihoods are at risk.

Louisiana hires adviser to help critique hurricane models

By: Rebecca Mowbray, Times-Picayune

With a new generation of hurricane computer models making it easier for insurance companies to make arguments to raise rates, Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon said he has put the woman who is considered the founder of the computer modeling world on retainer to help Louisiana poke holes in insurer's arguments.

Commissioners debate regional solution to Gulf Coast insurance woes

By: Rebecca Mowbray, Times-Picayune

A regional solution to the Gulf Coast's insurance woes is not as easy as it sounds, Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon and Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney told leaders gathered for a forum on America's energy coast Wednesday. Valsin Marmillion, managing director of the America's Wetland Foundation, the organizer of the two-day event at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans, called the high price of insurance "the biggest issue for the economy of the region," and asked the commissioners whether Gulf Coast states could band together create a larger territory so that companies could spread risk more easily.

Dire consequences if coastal restoration is delayed: An editorial

By: Editorial Staff, Times-Picayune

Scientists and public officials in Louisiana and other parts of the Gulf Coast have been sounding the alarm about coastal erosion for decades, urging Congress to dedicate the tens of billions of dollars needed to restore and protect Louisiana's wetlands.

Seagrass stores more carbon than forests - study

By: Reuters

Reuters) - Coastal seagrass can store more heat-trapping carbon per square mile (kilmometre) than forests can, which means these coastal plants could be part of the solution to climate change, scientists said in a new study.

2012 Coastal Master Plan aims to stem tide of Louisiana land loss

By: Maya Rodriguez, Times-Picayune

Looking 50 years into the future, Louisiana's 2012 Coastal Master Plan aims to turn back the tide of the relentless land loss plaguing the state. "We've been losing roughly 30 miles a year off of our coast. We can not continue to lose that amount of land and protect our people, protect our ecosystems," said Gov. Bobby Jindal, R-Louisiana.

Sen. Boxer promises quick action on bill to give Gulf states bulk of BP fines

By: Bruce Albert, Times-Picayune

Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer said Wednesday she'll quickly move legislation giving Louisiana and other Gulf states the vast majority of fines imposed on BP for last year's massive BP oil spill.

Click Here to See Photos of Why Should We Save the Wetlands!

By: Bayou Grace Community Services

Check out this amazing photo project by one of our proud partners, Bayou Grace Community Services, on why should the Wetlands be saved!