UNCW students to restore wildlife habitat damaged by Hurricane Katrina

This year, twelve students from University of North Carolina Wilmington are planning a truly wild spring break, restoring hurricane-damaged wildlife habitat in New Orleans. March 2-8, these UNCW students will plant trees, remove invasive species, and build nesting boxes for birds--all while gaining an appreciation for one of the nation's most productive ecosystems. "The dedication and enthusiasm of these young people is incredible," said Rebecca Triche, Senior Coordinator for the National Wildlife Federation's Coastal Louisiana Habitat Restoration Initiative. Hurricane Katrina knocked down thousands of trees, blew in debris, and scoured vegetation from large areas of coastal wetlands. The damage to wildlife habitat was significant. Since the hurricane, invasive species such as Chinese Tallow and Cat's Claw have taken advantage of the opened forest canopy and spread quickly, choking out native trees and plants. The students will remove these invasives and replant areas where large numbers of trees were destroyed by high winds. "These coastal ecosystems are incredibly resilient, but they need our help right now," said Triche. "It's gratifying that hundreds of students are choosing to spend their vacations with us, restoring Louisiana's forests and wetlands. What they are doing will make a permanent difference to the wildlife that depend on these habitats." Volunteers also will construct and install nest boxes for wood ducks and other birds that normally nest in cavities found in older trees. Coastal wetland forests normally support a large population of wood ducks and other waterfowl. Katrina's winds toppled the trees that wood ducks depend on for nesting sites. With these nest boxes, the students will create alternative 'housing' for these birds while the forests recover. Money for the Coastal Louisiana Habitat Restoration Initiative comes from a special fund created by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to help with habitat recovery in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The initiative, sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation, aims to enlist 2,500 volunteers to contribute 65,000 hours of volunteer labor repairing hurricane damage to Louisiana's wildlife habitat.

"It's going to be hard work," said Triche. "But spending spring break restoring one of the most productive ecosystems on earth is an experience these students will never forget." The National Wildlife Federation's mission is to inspire Americans to protect wildlife for our children's future.