General DNR News

DNR Exhibits at Earth Fest at Audubon Zoo

Officials from the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will partake in celebrating the wonders of the Earth and the environment during Earth Fest 2003, on Saturday and Sunday, March 22-23, 2003, at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans.

As exhibitors, DNR’s Technology Assessment and Energy Office will sponsor a portable photovoltaic system which demonstrates how sunlight is converted into electricity. The display consists of four 120 watt single crystalline solar panels, and a battery bank that can deliver 1,500 watts of output at 120 volts of alternating currents. The components are arranged in such a way as to allow easy viewing and understanding of how it works.

The DNR Coastal Management Division will also sponsor the America’s WETLAND exhibit which features the state’s coastal restoration awareness campaign to save our vanishing wetlands. There are nearly 3.4 million acres of wetlands in coastal Louisiana including bottomland hardwood forests, swamps, fresh marsh, intermediate marsh, brackish marsh and saline marsh. Brochures and hand-out information will be available to those that wish to join and become involved in the campaign.

Audubon Zoo is located at 6500 Magazine Street in New Orleans. Admission to Earth Fest is included in regular Zoo admission, which is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 2 to twelve and $6 for seniors 65 years of age and older. Audubon Zoo members are admitted free of charge. For more information on Earth Fest 2003 at Audubon Zoo, phone toll free 1-866-ITS-A-ZOO (1-866-487-2966) or visit Audubon's website at www.auduboninstitute.org.

Editors: For more information on this topic, please contact DNR’s Public Information Office at 225/342-8955.