What is Coastal Roots?
Students from 2nd grade through high school are taking part in this project to learn about and become environmental stewards of their natural resources by establishing native plant nurseries at their schools. Students are growing native plant seedlings and grass plugs that they will plant in a coastal habitat restoration project in south Louisiana and in Chile, South America.
There are currently 55 schools across 21 Louisiana parishes currently participating in the LSU Coastal Roots Program, as well as four schools split between Concepcion and Santiago, Chile . There are two schools that will be joining our program in the coming months!
Students are working with a variety of native trees,
including the Water Oak, Tupelo Gum, Swamp Red Maple, Loblolly Pine, Nuttall Oak, and Longleaf Pine - just to name a few. A number of our schools also grow bitter panicum, a beach dune
grass, that is planted on Grand Isle and on the beaches of Cameron Parish.