And we are growing!
The Land Trust for Southeast Louisiana is proud to serve the Southeast Louisiana community in protecting our region's natural and agricultural resources. Land conservation is a new concept in Louisiana, but because the people in Southeast Louisiana have such strong connections with their land, LTSL can be a natural tool in helping to protect critical and imperiled areas.
Abita Springs Longleaf Pine Mitigation Bank
Located east of Abita Springs on Talisheek Highway (LA Highway 435), this property is open to the public and permits visitors daily access during daylight hours. This preserve features an interpretive boardwalk and is home to a Longleaf Pine savannah and Bayhead swamps. The Nature Conservancy uses prescribed fires every 1-3 years to promote species diversity, and to reduce the growth of shrubs and other woody plants. This encourages visits by increasingly rare wildlife, including the Bachman's Sparrow.
For more information on prescribed fire please click here. The savannah and swamp habitats are home to over 300 species of herbaceous plants, including the Carnivorous Yellow Pitcher plant, Parrot Pitcher plant, and Sundew.
This property is open to the public during daylight hours. Please take the opportunity to visit and explore this rare and beautiful land. It is the perfect spot for birding, photography, family, or solo walks. Longleaf Pine forests once covered millions of acres across the southeast United States, but now restricted to less than 5% of its original area.
Volunteer opportunities are available involving trail maintenance and annual winter plantings of Long Leaf Pine seedlings in a joint effort with The Nature Conservancy. Send an email to info@ltsl.org (provide your mailing and email address along with your phone number). LTSL does not share its mailing list with other organizations.
photo by Lana Gramlich
An anonymous donor has bequeathed 18.1 acres to LTSL. The property, located in St. Tammany Parish, is to remain undeveloped and in its natural state. The land is dominated by large pines and scattered hardwoods, and has a pond and some structures. The current owner wants to keep the property undeveloped and in its natural state, as it is now, possibly with small nature paths.
The approximately 140-acre Tunica Hills Property preserve is located along Highway 61 in West Feliciana Parish. The land owners' desire to help protect and preserve the rural area prompted them to seek out preservation options. It consists of old growth timber, a primitive road, and a 40 acre multi-use site which is currently planted with timber.
9 Mile Island
This stretch of land along Lake Catherine was formerly owned by the railroad. Consisting of brackish tidal marsh, it is a habitat for several endagered species, including the diamond back terrapin turtle and the bald eagle. This 139.7 acre location is part of a fishing community located in the Rigolets Pass. The property also provides habitat for water fowl and it is located near the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge, which consists of 23,000 acres of tidal marsh that is managed for multiple uses, including hunting and fishing. The property is located south of the Rigolets pass and nearby properties are used for public fishing access. This land provides a vital link between coastal Louisiana and the North Shore.
Murrell Butler
The Preserve at Whiskey Island
The two tracts of wetland provide significant conservation benefits, including wildlife habitat, promoting water quality, and absorbing flood and storm water. Not only is part of the property adjacent to the Ponchatoula Creek, local scientists have identified the property's cypress-tupelo forests as being some of the healthiest in southeast Louisiana. LTSL has signed a conservation servitude to protect the first 80+ acres located within the ring surrounding the development. Further discussions will be held to consider protecting the 240 acres of cypress-tupelo swamp.
Map of Currently Protected Lands
