Ensure future holidays; help stem erosion
Published: Friday, January 2, 2004 at 2:48 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, January 2, 2004 at 2:48 p.m.
The issue: Christmas trees.
We suggest: Recycle them.
Every year, thousands of people buy Christmas trees, decorate them and enjoy them during the season.
After the holiday, the trees usually get thrown out with the trash -- but they don't have to be. Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes are again participating in the Department of Natural Resource's Christmas Tree Fence program. The effort is aimed at slowing marshland erosion.
It reportedly works because the trees' presence slows the wave action, which in turn increases sediment movement. Wooden fences are built to keep the trees in place and vegetation is planted behind them to accelerate plant growth that helps retain the sediment. The trees also are touted as providing habitat for fish.
This project may not accomplish too much in terms of saving the coastline, which is eroding at a rate of about 25 square miles annually. But officials say the trees do provide a little protection -- and every little bit helps.
What this project does -- maybe more than the actual anti-erosion effort -- is help heighten awareness of the coastal plight in the public eye. Just a couple years ago, coastal erosion wasn't high on the public's list of concerns. But thanks to efforts like this one and many more, people -- both within our state and beyond -- are coming to realize the depth of the problem and its potential effects if not curbed. Small projects like this one help build a sense of ownership in the problem and its solution.
Fortunately, awareness and resulting support has been building. In 2003, the America's Wetland public relations campaign, designed to help spread the message nationwide, launched; the campaign logo started showing up on Tabasco bottles, at the Bassmaster Classic, in Eatel directories and during the Sugar Bowl. The greatest sign that U.S. leaders are getting the message was the inclusion of $1.1 billion for 10 years earmarked for coastal preservation in the energy bill; the bill died in Congress -- but the coastal appropriation was not cited as the stumbling block to the bill's passage. Considering Louisiana needs $14 billion to fight the problem, it was a start.
The effort to educate people about Louisiana's coastal crisis must continue -- and people must become passionate about it. This Christmas-tree recycling project is one way average citizens can help contribute to the effort and visibly show their support.
In Terrebonne, collection sites/dumpsters for trees void of any decorations are located:
--At the dump site on Crochetville Road in Montegut.
--At the dump site at the end of Isle of Cuba Road in Schriever.
--Ashland Landfill, 337 Ashland Landfill Road.
--Rouses Superstore, 5818 W. Main St.
--Bayou Dularge gymnasium, 1330 Dr. Beatrous Road;
In Lafourche, undecorated trees can be dropped off:
--On the south side of South Lafourche High School.
--Across from Central Lafourche High School.
--Near Thibodaux High School, along Tiger Drive.
Do the right thing for the coast -- recycle your Christmas tree.
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