NEWSROOM
Louisiana
Sea Grant Helps Spearhead New Coastal Issues Initiative
March 4, 2005
Recognizing the need
to address immediate issues faced by Louisiana citizens, businesses
and industries affected by coastal deterioration, Louisiana Sea
Grant (LSG), the Louisiana State University System and the LSU
AgCenter have undertaken a new initiative to aid those groups.
“An open exchange
of ideas and listening to the needs of officials in the parishes
impacted by the state’s coastal land loss crisis is the
first step in addressing near-term problems,” said Dr. Chuck
Wilson, Louisiana Sea Grant executive director. “We’ve
taken that step.”
In a first-of-its-kind
forum, researchers from LSG, LSU, University of Louisiana at Lafayette,
University of Louisiana at Monroe, University of New Orleans,
Tulane University, Nicholls State, McNeese University and Loyola
met with parish officials to expand existing partnerships and
pledge to address immediate concerns.
“We’re
not abandoning long-term coastal restoration, but we are making
a partial shift in our research focus to address the current reality
facing the citizens and communities of coastal Louisiana,”
Wilson said.
Researchers attending
the Presidents’ Forum on Meeting Coastal Challenges, hosted
by LSU System President William Jenkins on the LSU Baton Rouge
campus, listened to parish officials’ concerns so university
scientists can better identify and refine research priorities.
Topics discussed at the Jan. 25 forum included hurricane vulnerability
and evacuation issues, economic impacts, development and infrastructure
issues and approaches to coastal restoration, among others.
As the result of the
forum, a plan of action is being developed and local officials’
input will be solicited in refining strategies.
"Through a series
of parish-targeted, interactive forums focused on meeting coastal
challenges, we hope the research and public service expertise
of the state's higher education institutions can help foster realistic
solutions that improve coastal sustainability and reduce the growing
risks facing coastal communities," said Dr. Paul Coreil,
LSU AgCenter Vice Chancellor.
Instrumental in organizing
the Presidents’ Forum on Meeting Coastal Challenges were
Dr. Coreil; Rex Caffey, LSU Assistant Professor; Don Davis, administrator
for the Governor’s Coastal Science Program; Mike Liffmann,
Associate Director of Louisiana Sea Grant and Dr. Wilson.
Additional
information about the forum, along with presentations and a transcript,
are available at http://www.seagrantfish.lsu.edu/news/index.html.
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