Bottomland Forests of the Louisiana Plains

The Bottomland Forests of the Louisiana Plains project applies improved forest management (IFM) practices to bottomland hardwood forests spanning Louisiana and Mississippi — some of the most productive and ecologically significant forests in North America. Bottomland hardwood forests grow along rivers and floodplains, storing exceptional amounts of carbon in both their biomass and waterlogged soils. These forests are critical habitat for migratory waterfowl, black bears, alligators, and hundreds of bird species that rely on the Mississippi Flyway. The project reduces timber harvest intensity, extends rotation lengths, and protects riparian buffers, resulting in increased carbon sequestration over time. Forest owners receive compensation through carbon credit revenue, creating economic incentives for conservation over conversion to agriculture. The project strengthens the ecological connectivity of the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley, one of the most important wetland ecosystems in the United States.