The Coastal Louisiana Restoration team at Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is working to protect the wetlands of the Mississippi River Delta. This region provides important services for southern Louisiana and the nation as a whole, but it’s disappearing at an alarming rate. As each acre of threatened marshland subsides or erodes away, we lose vital habitats for fish and wildlife as well as critical hurricane protection for the people of southern Louisiana. This crisis imperils important industrial facilities, densely populated communities, and unique cultures that have developed along the bayous and rivers of southern Louisiana.
EDF, in partnership with local organizations (Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana and Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation) and national groups (National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation and The Nature Conservancy), is finding solutions to rehabilitate this vital ecosystem. Putting people to work in green-collar restoration jobs will be critical to protecting the wetlands of southern Louisiana.
Restoration and Resilience will serve as a forum for discussing job creation
through wetland regeneration and smart hazard protection. Our blog will also showcase original research by EDF staff members and guest contributors.
While conversations on ‘Green Jobs’ are ubiquitous (See Here, Here and Here), they have narrowly focused on energy efficiency at the expense of other sectors. This blog aims to show that restoring the Louisiana coast is as important as building wind turbines for America’s environmental and economic security.
We’ll take a uniquely EDF approach and provide thoughts and analysis grounded in good science and sound economics. We welcome your feedback and look forward to the conversation.