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Many of the trees in these towering hardwood forests and primeval cypress swamps date back to the Louisiana Purchase, and some stretch back 1,000 years. The cypress forests are home to waterfowl, serve as the resting point for neotropical migratory birds along the Mississippi flyway traveling to and from South America and were once home to the recently rediscovered Ivory-billed woodpecker.

The cypress forests are important for holding together freshwater coastal wetlands, helping protect communities from hurricanes by reducing the storm surge, preventing erosion and acting as a filter for cleaning water. Louisiana can lay claim to about 40 percent of coastal wetlands in the Lower 48, yet the rate at which these treasures are destroyed is higher yet. For the past several decades, Louisiana has lost as much as 40 square miles of marsh each year — 80 percent of the nation's annual coastal wetland loss.

The most immediate threat to Louisiana's coastal cypress forests is the backyard garden. Commercial interests have proposed to liquidate the state's cypress forests for garden mulch. Many cypress forests will not regenerate: once they are logged, they — and their wildlife habitat — are lost. In addition to ruining a Louisiana landmark and wiping out prime wildlife habitat, ripping apart this intricate system could push Louisiana's shoreline further inland and remove important storm buffers.

With significant state and federal dollars already invested in restoring this coastal system, it's important to prevent more destruction and mitigate the need for future restoration efforts. Sierra Club is working to educate citizens about alternative garden mulches such as pine straw, pine bark or composted yard waste, and pushing for protection of Louisiana's remaining coastal cypress forests.

For more information, please contact Dean Wilson at basinkeeper@aol.com or (225) 659-2499.