Projects and Research
Bayou Sauvage is the second largest national wildlife refuge national wildlife refuge
A national wildlife refuge is typically a contiguous area of land and water managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.
Learn more about national wildlife refuge located in an urban area of the U.S., and is one of the last remaining marsh areas adjacent to the south shores of lakes Pontchartrain and Borgne. One of the key objectives of the refuge is to provide opportunities for fish and wildlife-dependent public uses and recreation in an urban setting. The refuge also helps protect east New Orleans from hurricane storm surge.
Urban Program: Being located within the city of New Orleans, the refuge offers urban dwellers an opportunity to connect with nature and experience wildlife and the habitats that support them close to home. The Urban Wildlife Refuge Program at Bayou Sauvage reaches beyond refuge boundaries and into communities to provide opportunities for New Orleanians and visitors to experience and enjoy these public lands and the wildlife that lives there. Our urban program engages the community in environmental education and service learning.
Restoration of the Ridge Project: This post-Hurricane Katrina project aims to restore a mixed hardwood forest which suffered extensive damage due to saltwater and wind. Since 2005, local schoolchildren and community volunteers have been planting trees and removing invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.
Learn more about invasive species at this site. An interpretive boardwalk trail explores this area.