Logging the Atchafalaya Basin: Why It Matters to Louisiana

Louisiana’s got a problem. The Atchafalaya Basin, once known as the “North American Amazon,” used to be filled with ancient cypress trees towering up to 200 feet tall. These giants spanned millions of acres, but aggressive logging over the last 150 years has reduced the forest to a fraction of its former glory. By the 1910s, the old-growth trees were wiped out, and it could take hundreds of years to bring them back, if they can survive.

In the 2000s, the problem got worse. Second-growth cypress trees were cut down at a rate of 20,000 acres per year, turned into mulch that companies falsely claimed was environmentally harvested. This widespread destruction of the Basin is a huge reason why flood risks in Louisiana have risen, making towns and homes more vulnerable. The Atchafalaya Basin is crucial to draining the state, and without it, flood insurance prices climb, and famous Louisiana towns could become unlivable.

The Atchafalaya Basinkeeper has been the only organization fighting to protect what’s left of this precious land. In 2012, they managed to stop all logging operations and convinced a British company not to use Louisiana cypress for wood pellets. However, the threat of cypress logging returned in 2016. The Basin’s future remains uncertain, and without action, it could continue to degrade.

We’re asking everyone to support the Basinkeepers in any way possible, whether through donations, spreading the word, or simply following their updates. Every little bit helps preserve this vital part of Louisiana.

Much of this information comes from the Atchafalaya Basinkeeper website. You can read more about the logging threat on their site. 

Here you can find the donation link. 

*These images were sourced from historical photos and expanded using photoshop generative fill.