America's Wetland Foundation facts for kids

The America's WETLAND Foundation (AWF) was a special group that worked to protect and save the important coastal wetlands in Louisiana, USA. Wetlands are like natural sponges that help protect the land. AWF was a non-profit organization, meaning it didn't aim to make money. Its main goal was to teach people about how important Louisiana's wetlands are and what happens when they disappear.

AWF was based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The group started its public education efforts in 2002. AWF stopped operating in 2020 because it no longer had enough money to continue its work.

History of America's WETLAND Foundation

In 2001, former Louisiana Governor Mike Foster started a big effort to fight against coastal erosion. Coastal erosion is when land slowly gets washed away by water. A study showed that fixing this problem would cost a lot of money, over $14 billion. To get this much money, they needed help from the national government. This meant they needed many people across the country to support their cause.

In 2003, AWF became its own independent foundation. It received money from public donations and private companies like Shell Oil Company and Tabasco pepper sauce.

Both Republicans and Democrats supported AWF's work. Former Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco joined the effort in 2004. AWF grew into a huge campaign, spending millions of dollars. It became known as "the largest public education campaign in Louisiana history."

How Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Affected AWF

Before Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit in 2005, AWF held an event called "Storm Warnings." This event showed how wetlands act like a natural shield against hurricanes. They even put a blue tarp over a street in New Orleans to show how high floodwaters could get if a very strong storm hit.

After these powerful hurricanes, the America's WETLAND Foundation became a key way for Louisiana officials to ask for national support. Former Congressman Billy Tauzin said that everyone worked together around America's Wetland after the disasters.

Governor Blanco also asked AWF to help set up the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation. This foundation collected donations to help people in Louisiana who were affected by the hurricanes.

A group called "Women of the Storm" (WOS) was also created after the storms. This group of 140 volunteers from New Orleans worked to get members of the United States Congress to visit the hurricane-damaged areas. By January 2009, their efforts led to many Senators and Representatives seeing the damage firsthand.

One year after the hurricanes, AWF organized a "Riding the Trail to Recovery" event. This was a two-mile cattle drive to bring attention to people affected by Hurricane Rita. These people might have felt forgotten because Hurricane Katrina got more attention.

AWF's Goals and Messages

The America's WETLAND Foundation's public awareness campaign focused on two main ideas:

• First, the Louisiana coast is very important for the environment worldwide.
• Second, it is vital for the energy and economic future of the United States.

The Foundation supported Louisiana's plan for coastal restoration, which was approved in 2007.

AWF's public education campaign had five main goals:

• Create a clear and strong message about the problem of losing Louisiana's wetlands.
• Use different types of media, like print and online news, to share information and get support.
• Build a strong network of other organizations to help spread their messages.
• Create ways to teach young people and adults about coastal Louisiana issues.
• Find ways to get money to support the campaign and long-term restoration work.

Awareness Events and Activities

The America's WETLAND Foundation organized many events to raise awareness. Some of their yearly events included "Storm Warnings" and "Keep Your Eye on The Prize."

• Storm Warnings: This event happened around the start of each Atlantic hurricane season (late May). It aimed to show the country how important Louisiana's coast is and how wetlands protect against hurricanes. For example, in 2009, they had a concert and a gathering of boats. The boats used reflectors to point light to the sun, which was photographed by a satellite. This showed how much land could be lost if nothing was done to restore the coast.

• Keep Your Eye On The Prize: This was a two-month-long contest for Louisiana students in grades four through twelve. Students could submit photos, art, or poetry about the beauty or importance of wetlands. Winners received money for their schools to do conservation projects, often with the America's WETLAND Conservation Corps.

• The Estuarians: These were animated superhero characters created to help kids learn about wetlands. They also appeared as mascots at events like Mardi Gras.

AWF also helped create birding trails across Louisiana with the Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu. The America's Wetland Birding Trail now has 264 sites where people can watch birds. These sites are in different natural areas like rivers, deltas, and forests.

AWF also made brochures, public service announcements, and documentaries to share its message.

Groups Connected to AWF

AWF supported educational and restoration programs. One was the America's WETLAND Conservation Corps. This program worked with Louisiana State University to place members in different parts of Louisiana. These members helped with hands-on projects like planting new plants and cleaning up communities. Their goal was to teach people about protecting wetlands.

Another related group was "Women of the Storm" (WOS), formed after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. This group of 140 volunteers from New Orleans worked to get members of Congress to visit hurricane-damaged areas. By January 2009, their efforts led to many Senators and Representatives seeing the damage firsthand.

America's Energy Coast was another group connected to AWF. It brought together energy-producing states like Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas. They worked together to find ways to protect the coastal environment and ensure the nation's energy supply.

Awards and Support

The America's WETLAND Campaign won over 45 awards for its work. These included awards like the MarCom Creative Awards and the Telly Award.

The Houma Courier newspaper praised the campaign. It said that much of the progress made in coastal challenges could be linked to America's Wetland and its important work.

In 2007, Miss Louisiana USA winner Elizabeth McNulty also worked with the America's WETLAND Foundation and its Conservation Corps.

See also

• Wetlands of the United States
• Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority