New Orleans flies trees to wetlands for restoration
New Orleans residents and the Louisiana National Guard dropped discarded Christmas trees into Bayou Sauvage wetlands to help rebuild the marsh.
Every year, thousands of bare trees fly from the city to the refuge instead of ending up in a landfill site. This annual event has united local agencies and residents for nearly three decades to support a major restoration effort.
Workers bundle fifty to sixty trees with wire straps before National Guard crews attach them to helicopters for transport over the refuge. Crews carefully position these bundles in straight lines to create effective barriers within the designated marsh areas for erosion control.
Placed in shallow water, the tree branches slow down water movement and hold onto soil that might wash away during storms. This accumulated material supports grass growth and stabilizes the shoreline while creating new habitats for birds and shrimp.
The program helped restore an area of marshland roughly the size of three hundred and thirty football fields in the year 2025. Originally using airboats, the National Guard now practices lifting heavy loads with helicopters while aiding the coastal environment.
“also providing valuable training hours for our pilots and crew members”