Environment Program Hosts First Roundtable of Spring Semester

On Thursday, February 5th the Environment program hosted its first Spring semester Roundtable: “Nature-Based Solutions” with Jacqueline Richard (Nunez Community College Associate Professor of Geology) and Corey Miller (Community Engagement Director, Pontchartrain Conservancy). 

At Nunez Community College, Jacqueline Richard teaches students ways to restore wetlands and coasts through classes that focus on policy, project design, implementation, and management. The coastal program puts emphasis on St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parish, as they are losing land the fastest. Richard believes in hands-on learning for students, getting them involved in welding apprenticeships, mangrove collection & propagation through nonprofit work with Bay Adams, and she even bought 10 ½ acres for students to be able to analyze native species and test methodologies on maintenance/care, plantings & seed collection, and stratification. She also has 1200 personal mangroves along this land that contribute to soil conservation as well. If you are interested in these 1-2 year programs, learn more here.

Corey Miller works at the Pontchartrain Conservancy as a community engagement director, focusing on the Pontchartrain basin on the Louisiana side. Pontchartrain Conservancy works on restoring natural processes, rebuilding key landscape features, restoring habitat, and using natural resources. Their overall goal is to reforest historical swamp habitat. Over the last 10 years, more than 70,000 wetland tree saplings have been planted to work towards soil conservation and coastal restoration. Miller has also gotten involved locally, working with Clancy Maggiore Elementary to create a rain garden and Phoenix High School, planting native species around the school to increase biodiversity! Learn more about what Pontchartrain Conservancy is doing here.

Both speakers came together at the end to discuss their thought processes on topics such as hurdles to nature-based projects, whether or not total restoration is possible, and even personal opinions on things like total costs for projects and whether or not they are ultimately worth it. A lot of the work that they do boils down to new innovation and creativity, and educating community members on impact and techniques. 

If you missed the most recent Roundtable, check out the recording on our YouTube channel! Stay tuned for future Roundtables & events by following our Instagram here.