Go Zero Current Planting Locations
For the past several years, The Conservation Fund’s reforestation efforts have been focused on the Lower Mississippi River Valley. Habitat loss is more pronounced here than in any other area of the United States—more than 24 million acres of bottomland hardwood forests have been cleared over the course of the last century. Restoring these lands are top priorities for The Conservation Fund and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
Today, we’re directing Go Zero donations toward the Lake Ophelia, Grand Cote, Red River and Upper Ouachita National Wildlife Refuges in Louisiana.
Red River National Wildlife Refuge |
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 Cypress Tree at Red River. Photo by Doug Mace/Dreamstime. |
We’re working with the USFWS to buy and restore about 1,180 acres of marginal farmland within the boundary of the Red River National Wildlife Refuge located in Natchitoches Parish in northern Louisiana. Using donations from Go Zero, the Fund will restore the entire acreage to its native bottomland hardwood forest habitat in two phases. Once restored, the land will be conveyed to the Service as an addition to the Red River National Wildlife Refuge for permanent protection and long-term stewardship. |
Lake Ophelia NWR and Grand Cote NWR |
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 Lake Ophelia. Photo by Sean Gardner. |
At Lake Ophelia NWR and Grand Cote NWR, in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana near Marksville, the Fund and the USFWS aim to restore more than 800 acres of marginal agriculture lands back to native, forested habitat. |
Upper Ouachita National Wildlife Refuge |
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 Upper Ouachita River. Photo courtesy USFWS. |
Just north of Monroe, Louisiana, we are helping the Service protect more than 3,900 acres at Upper Ouachita National Wildlife Refuge where 2,600 acres are being restored thanks to Go Zero donors. Migratory waterfowl, songbirds and shorebirds all use forested, moist soil and open-water wetland habitats for nesting, foraging and taking cover from predators. During the fall and winter, these habitats flood, thus setting the table for wintering waterfowl looking to plump up on high protein nuts and other foods. In late summer, the water recedes within open-water wetland pools, creating mudflats for migrating shorebirds. |
Our restoration initiatives at Grand Cote, Lake Ophelia, Red River, Marais des Cygnes, Mingo and Upper Ouachita national wildlife refuges have all received GOLD level validation from CCBA. The Fund has received more gold level carbon validations than any other organization in America.
Go Zero – Plant Trees
CONTACT
Jena Meredith
San Diego, CA
(512) 423-5086
jmeredith@conservationfund.org
As Director of Corporate Partnerships and Director of Go Zero, Jena Thompson Meredith has combined entrepreneurial vision and conservation ideals for a decade at The Conservation Fund. Jena has led initiatives with Dell, Delta, Mercedes-Benz USA, The North Face, Travelocity, U-Haul, the U.S…. Read More
CONTACT
Carrie Gombos
Arlington, VA
(703) 908-5808
cgombos@conservationfund.org