Last week, hundreds of scientists, engineers, and policymakers involved in the rehabilitation of threatened environments gathered near Baltimore’s Inner Harbor for the 4th National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration (NCER). One of the featured speakers was Lisa Jackson, who also serves as the head of the Environmental Protection Agency and as the chair of the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force.
In her address, Jackson said that restoration of the Gulf Coast’s wetlands would be a major focus of the task force’s final report, which is slated to be released this fall. As the task force examines the long-term impacts of land loss in the region, it will work to address pressing questions about the management of the Mississippi River and the labor-intensive projects that have been proposed to restore its delta, the largest along the Gulf of Mexico.
Her words carry great weight. The RESTORE (Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities and Revived Economy of the Gulf Coast) Act promises significant funding for environmental work in areas affected by the BP oil disaster. The marshes and swamps of coastal Louisiana are vitally important for the overall health of the Gulf of Mexico, so it is particularly encouraging to hear that the Pelican State’s wetlands will receive special attention.
By emphasizing the link between Louisiana wetland restoration and Gulf-wide ecosystem recovery at NCER, Jackson provided affirmation for the central role that the Mississippi River Delta has played, and will play, in the region’s future.
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