WHEREAS, coastal Louisiana contains cheniers, barrier headlands and ridges that are or have been covered in woody vegetation, and
WHEREAS, these wooded areas provide storm protection as evidenced during the approach, landfall and passage of both Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, and
WHEREAS, these wooded cheniers, headlands and ridges provide nesting habitat for herons, egrets, roseate spoonbills, ibis and other wading bird species, and
WHEREAS, these coastal woodlands are also important as resting and refueling sites during trans-Gulf avian migration, and
WHEREAS, during high water events coastal woodlands provide refuge for wildlife and livestock, and
WHEREAS, many coastal woodlands, ridges and barrier headlands are at risk to sand mining and the removal of woody vegetation which would diminish their storm buffering capacity and degrade the quality of protection and habitat they provide to birds and other animals.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation (LWF) urges the state of Louisiana to protect and restore coastal barrier headlands, ridges and cheniers and establish/reestablish, via plantings and habitat management, the presence of woody species of plants appropriate to the sites.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that LWF urges the state of Louisiana to preserve the habitat quality and storm buffering capacity of coastal cheniers through acquisition, easement and regulation, including prohibition of sand mining, land clearing and other significant alterations to chenier integrity.
Adopted by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation in Convention Assembled, March 1, 2009 in West Monroe, Louisiana