They were the original “tree huggers” - venerators of old growth redwood forests standing for centuries in what are now Sequoia, Redwood and Olympia National Parks, clustered in the Western United States. Early US environmentalists recognized the value, age, and durability of these national treasures in the late 1800s, and rightly took action to protect the tallest tree species on earth from clear-cut logging and other threats.
Thousands of miles away, a similarly record-setting species of flora faced a similar threat to the old growth redwood forests - the old growth cypress forests of the Southeastern United States. Designated Louisiana's official state tree in 1963, the iconic bald cypress is one of the most recognized natural resources in the Atchafalaya Basin. Able to thrive in standing freshwater, bald cypress grow wild in Louisiana’s swamps. Unlike most conifers, which are evergreens, the bald cypress is deciduous, meaning it loses its needles in the fall, giving the tree a "bald" appearance. In fact, Louisiana boasts the largest documented bald cypress in the United States; located on Cat Island (now part of the Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge), this majestic bald cypress measures 53-feet in circumference at breast height. (To hug that tree, it would take at least nine people.)
"Cypress trees were once an historical construction mainstay for Louisiana natives and settlers. Heartwood of old-growth cypress contains cypressene oil, giving the wood valuable characteristics that enable it to thrive in the South Louisiana climate. The oil renders the wood rot-resistant, making it an ideal boat-building material; in the past, it was used to build pirogues as well as larger bateaus and skiffs. Also termite resistant, the old wood was ideal for building homes; and Acadian-style homes still standing today are proof of the lumber’s durability. In the early twentieth century, timber and lumber companies harvested hundreds of thousands of acres of cypress trees, which resulted in the depletion of the old-growth ‘virgin’ cypress." (Billiot, Wendy Wilson. “Bald Cypress.” Country Roads Magazine, 28 Jan. 2014)
Unfortunately, help for the old growth bald cypress forests came much later than it did for the redwoods - only in the past 20 years. That’s when the US Forest Service officially recognized old growth forests as a distinct ecological and biodiversity resource. This recognition vastly enhances their status in forest management planning. The State of Louisiana employs various forest conservation efforts as well to conserve and revitalize this invaluable natural resource in Louisiana and to raise awareness of ongoing threats to remnant old growth habitats, such as sedimentation, salt water intrusion, and cypress logging for mulch.
But it’s the citizens of Louisiana, the naturalists, scientists, artists, and outdoor adventurers, who drive the current effort to document existing old growth bald cypress trees through an archival project called the Louisiana Purchase Cypress Legacy Initiative. Through the Louisiana Purchase Cypress Legacy (LPCL), volunteers work to identify and landmark bald cypress trees that are at least 215 years old, or alive at the time of the Louisiana Purchase (1803).
Coordinated by Sierra Club Delta Chapter member Harvey Stern, the group works to heighten awareness for the fact that while most of the old growth bald cypress has long been logged off, a surprising number of large old cypress can still be found throughout Louisiana.
So how do we know a tree is over 215 years old?
The size and age of trees depends greatly on location, access to nutrients, and other ecological variables. Cypress trees twelve feet or greater in circumference (measured above the buttress) are potentially good candidates for "Louisiana Purchase Cypress Legacy Trees.” To determine the approximate age of candidate trees, the Cypress Legacy Initiative primarily uses circumference and diameter measurement as well as selective coring to count tree rings.
Once a candidate tree has been identified, measured, and cored, and an approximate age has been determined, the tree can be certified as a "Louisiana Purchase Cypress Legacy Tree.” The Cypress Legacy Initiative then documents the precise location of the certified tree through GPS coordinates. The group then marks the land near the tree with a plaque designating that the tree is a "Louisiana Purchase and Louisiana Bicentennial Tree" of over 215 years of age. Last, the specimen is entered in the official state registry of "Louisiana Purchase and Louisiana Bicentennial Trees."
In addition to cataloging our state’s oldest cypress trees, the group also hopes to promote conservation of old growth habitat by encouraging wetland and habitat stewardship, supporting eco-tourism visits to view Louisiana Purchase and Louisiana Bicentennial Trees, and educating the public about the role of cypress in Louisiana history, such as logging, construction, and the building of New Orleans, as well as the ecological issues and challenges facing old growth habitat, such as from logging for cypress mulch.
Want to get involved? The Cypress Legacy Initiative always seeks public help to support legislation and conservation efforts that preserve bald cypress habitat; to patronize and support organizations and eco-tourism companies that visit our forested wetlands, particularly those that highlight old growth cypress; and to let the group know of any large cypress trees that you feel would be good candidates for landmarking as Louisiana Bicentennial and Louisiana Purchase Trees - 215+ year old cypress that are well known locally, and relatively accessible, are especially good candidates.
Want to see a tree? Check out the list below to plan your next excursion, or visit the LA Purchase Cypress Legacy website for the latest tree-cataloging updates. Currently, the LPCL campaign is seeking to identify the largest/oldest cypress in each Lousiana Parish. Check the LPCL blog inventory to view in which parishes the oldest cypress have yet to be identified.
Louisiana Bicentennial Trees (alive in 1812)
[Initially identified and landmarked trees are on public property and are accessible by boat or on foot.] (see Blog inventory for maps and GPS coordinates)
1. Lake Verrett, Assumption Parish
2. Tickfaw State Park "Grandma Tree", Tangipahoa Parish
3. Buckhorn Wildlife Management Area, Brushy Lake Trail, Tensas Parish (see March 2012 Blog entry)
4. Woodlands Conservancy Trail, Plaquemines Parish
5. Chemin a Haute Bayou, Chemin a Haute State Park, Morehouse Parish "Castle tree"
6. Jean Lafitte National Park, Jefferson Parish, Coquille Trail
Louisiana Purchase Trees (alive in 1803)
(see Blog inventory for maps and GPS coordinates)
1. 1664 Robert Street at Baronne, Uptown New Orleans , Orleans Parish, **FOUNDER'S TREE** (plaque)
2. Sargent Lake Vicinity, Catahoula Parish **FOUNDER'S TREE** (plaque)
3. Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge, **FOUNDER'S TREE** (plaque)
4. Tickfaw State Park / Tickfaw River vicinity , Livingston Parish
5. Jean Lafitte National Park, Jefferson Parish
6. Saline Bayou, Big Cypress Preserve, Bienville Parish/ Cloud Crossing area Winn Parish
7. Black Bayou Area, Joyce Wildlife Management Area, Tangipahoa Parish
8. Ernest Slough and Goat/Porter's Island, West Pearl River area, St. Tammany Parish
9. Bear Bayou area Lake Fausse Point/Lake Dauterive, Atchafalaya Basin, St. Martin/Iberville Parish
10. Bayou Boeuf, Kisatchie National Forest, Rapides Parish
11. Bayou Loutre-Phillips Lake, Union Parish
12. Bayou Bartholomew/Bayou Chemin a Haute, Morehouse Parish
13. Lake Verrett, Assumption Parish
14. Bayou Jack, St. Landry Parish
15. Tensas National Wildlife Refuge (Africa Lake/ Tensas River) Tensas Parish
(Louisianadeltaadventures.com for detailed old cypress paddling trails in north La.)
16. Tangipahoa Parish LADWF site near Hwy 22 at Tangipahoa River