Coastal Louisiana has long been a landscape of rich natural resources and extensive human settlements in an extremely dynamic coastal environment.

Stakeholders, politicians, and scientists all agree that comprehensive regional planning programs that integrate economic development, protection, and restoration cannot afford to let the uncertainties of complex systems limit the effectiveness of program implementation.

The immense challenges to building a sustainable coastal region represent unique challenges and opportunities to reduce future risks and promote resiliency to human, economic, and natural resources. Effective rehabilitation and protection will require new partnerships in science (natural, social, and computational), art and architecture (design, planning, landscapes), and policy (economics, law, environmental management) with engineering (environmental, civil, structural, geotechnical) that reduces coastal hazards and enhances sustainability.

The LSU Coastal Sustainability Agenda describes our leadership in promoting integrated scholarship, research, and education as part of our LSU Flagship Agenda.

What is at stake and must be sustained?

Coastal Louisiana is one of the most culturally and ecologically rich coastal ecosystems in the world. Within this region are found 25% of the nation’s coastal wetlands and 40% of all salt marshes in the contiguous 48 states. These ecosystems are a buffer against storm damage and a nursery and foraging area for fish and crustaceans. Louisiana ranks first among all states in the commercial harvest of menhaden, oysters, and crabs and is a major producer of shrimp. Overall Louisiana’s commercial fisheries account for about 30% of the nation’s total fish catch.

The delta region is also a working coast, providing nationally significant economic resources. Approximately 17% of the nation’s oil and 25% of its natural gas come from Gulf coast waters. The ports of New Orleans, South Louisiana, Baton Rouge, and Lake Charles together handle more than 20% of the nation’s foreign waterborne commerce, and Louisiana operates the only superport (the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port) in the contiguous forty-eight states.