About Louisiana Wildlife Federation
Since 1940, LWF is conserving Louisiana's natural resources and your right to enjoy them
Louisiana Wildlife Federation (LWF) is the Bayou State's leading organization of sportsmen and conservationists with 24 state and local affiliated clubs and 8,900 members. It represents a broad constituency of hunters, anglers, campers, birders, boaters and other outdoor-oriented citizens.
The goals of Louisiana Wildlife Federation are to conserve the natural resources of Louisiana, with particular emphasis on fish and wildlife and their habitats, to protect the rights of Louisiana citizens to enjoy these resources in accordance with sound, scientifically established resource management principles, and to accomplish this primarily through education and advocacy.
Perhaps best known for its pioneering role in the establishment of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, and the constitutional amendment dedicating the Conservation Fund for the operation of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Louisiana Wildlife Federation has a long history of defending habitat and winning advances for conservation and the environment. A more recent achievement is advocating for the opening of Elmer's Island to the public that resulted in the State's Elmer's Island Wildlife Refuge. Louisiana Wildlife Federation also called for stronger protection for the Artificial Reef Development Fund that resulted in voters passing a constitutional amendment in 2014.
Louisiana Wildlife Federation's staff and volunteer leaders are working hard on a number of conservation fronts. Here are a few examples of these ongoing efforts:
Louisiana Wildlife Federation is the chief advocate for fish, wildlife and outdoor recreation on the State Water Policy Advisory Task Force, a body established by the Legislature to guide the development of water management policy and planning for Louisiana.
With continued Louisiana Wildlife Federation involvement and support, the state's Atchafalaya Basin Program has moved forward with projects and plans to enhance recreational opportunities and improve water quality through water management.
The Federation also played an important supporting role in convincing national conservation/environmental organizations to view the loss of the Mississippi River Coastal Delta as a national environmental issue worthy of more emphasis in their agendas.
Louisiana Wildlife Federation is addressing the negative impacts of feral hogs by calling for a coordinated, planned approach.
Louisiana Wildlife Federation is encouraging the review of forestry practices in the coastal zone to ensure the sustainability of this important element of the ecosystem that serves as a line of defense against coastal erosion.
Louisiana Wildlife Federation supports farm conservation and land management programs to reduce the runoff of nutrients responsible for the growing "Dead Zone" in the Gulf of Mexico.
Louisiana Wildlife Federation monitors legislative proposals concerning natural resources conservation and environmental quality, provides representation before the Louisiana Legislature and the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, and reports on the status of legislation to its members and the outdoor media in an effort to keep the public updated on rules, regulations and legislation that can impact the natural resources, environment and recreational opportunities in the state.
Louisiana Wildlife Federation is represented on numerous panels, committees and task forces pertaining to natural resources conservation and the quality of the environment including the Pesticide Advisory Commission, the Atchafalaya Trace Commission, the Water Management Commission, the Water Advisory Task Force, the Management Conference of the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program, and the Louisiana Oilfield Site Restoration Commission, among others.
Louisiana Wildlife Federation continues to be in the vanguard of conservation and environmental policy in our state. Our future enjoyment of the outdoors in the "Sportsman's Paradise" can continue only with grassroots support from citizens like you. Please JOIN US!
Our History
ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE LOUISIANA WILDLIFE FEDERATION
In the mid-1930s to early '40s an unprecedented conservation movement began in the United States. Compelled by the devastating effects of drought, erosion, excessive exploitation and habitat loss on fish and wildlife resources, groups such as the National Wildlife Federation, Wildlife Management Institute and Ducks Unlimited were conceived and organized. The Louisiana Wildlife Federation (LWF), incorporated in 1940, was part of that movement along with similar groups in many other states.
Meet Our Staff & Board
Our team is dedicated to Louisiana, LWF, and you
Rebecca Triche
Executive Director
Rebecca has been Louisiana Wildlife Federation's executive director since 2012 and previously worked for several non-profit organizations in Louisiana, the US Department of State and is a returned Peace Corps volunteer (Kazakhstan). Rebecca holds a Master of Public Administration from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication from LSU. She grew up in Ascension Parish.
Laura Gros
Office Manager
Before joining LWF in 2016, Laura previously worked for the Louisiana Conference Office of the United Methodist Church. She and her husband, Roy, managed a family hardware business for more than 20 years. She has two sons who are both firefighters. Laura received an associates degree from Southeastern Louisiana University.
Barbara Caldwell
Development Director
Barbara has been Louisiana Wildlife Federation's development director since 2018. She has over twenty years of fundraising experience in the non-profit sector. Barbara graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. A native of Florida, she was a twenty-year resident of Louisiana until Hurricane Katrina. In 2016 she was finally able to move back to the Bayou State.
Stacy Ortego
Outreach Coordinator
Before becoming outreach coordinator, Stacy was previously an intern at LWF and office manager. She received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, completed a second bachelor’s degree in Biology and received a graduate degree from LSU's Department of Oceanography and Coastal Science. She’s also worked as a wildlife rehabilitator and has done field work in the Atchafalaya Basin, Lake Pontchartrain and the Everglades. She is a native of Sunset.
Board of Directors
We greatly appreciate the service of our community members
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