PITTSBURGH, January 16, 2018 – The Southern Cypress Manufacturers Association (SCMA) contributed $1,000 to the Lacombe Heritage Center’s 9/11 Cypress Grove Living Memorials initiative in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. The initiative is partnered with the “Restore the Northshore: Adopt-A-Spot Bald Cypress Tree Planting Project” to help rebuild part of Louisiana’s coastline.
The 9/11 Cypress Grove Living Memorials initiative was developed as a two-fold project to plant nearly 15,000 cypress trees across St. Tammany Parish, according to Tom Aicklen, coordinator for the Lacombe Heritage Center.
“Our immediate goal is to establish five 9/11 Cypress Grove Living Memorials, each with 2,996 cypress trees,” Aicklen said. “Those numbers are significant because there were 2,996 victims who perished in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York City; Washington, D.C.; and aboard United Flight 93. Each grove will be dedicated to one of the five victims who were from Louisiana.
“Our long-term mission is to restore southeast Louisiana’s coastline, which is rapidly disappearing due to rising sea levels. The trees will take several decades to mature, but they’ll be integral for us to protect our area from natural disasters, such as hurricanes and flooding, as well as provide recreational greenspace.”
A volunteer getting ready to plant cypress saplings.
Mike Cambre, who is serving as project manager for the “Restore the Northshore” project, said planting cypress trees was a logical choice.
“Bald cypress is Louisiana’s state tree,” he explained. “They’re long-living, sturdy trees and they thrive in low-lying wet sites found across the Gulf Coastal Plains. We greatly appreciate the Southern Cypress Manufacturers Association’s donation, which will help us purchase roughly 2,000 cypress saplings.”
Stephen Logue, president of the SCMA, said he’s pleased the association is able to support these important causes.
“For hundreds of years, cypress trees helped build many communities throughout Louisiana,” Logue added. “Now, cypress trees are providing once again by bringing new life to Louisiana’s coastline for generations to come.”
The 9/11 Cypress Grove Living Memorials and “Restore the Northshore” projects began in March 11, 2017, and are on pace to be completed in 2019.
For more information on the SCMA, please visit www.CypressInfo.org.
About the Southern Cypress Manufacturers Association
The Southern Cypress Manufacturers Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of cypress building products to trade professionals and consumers. For more information, visit www.CypressInfo.org
