Programs

Governor Announces World, National & State Partners for America’s Wetland: Campaign to Save Coastal Louisiana

NEW ORLEANS—Governor M. J. “Mike” Foster, Jr., today announced that prominent world, national and state industry and organization leaders will join in Louisiana’s multi-year initiative to increase national awareness of the state’s dramatic coastal land loss and how that loss impacts the nation and the world.

“I am extremely gratified to announce today that Shell Oil Company Foundation has committed to a seed gift to help get our campaign off the ground. Their intention is to follow that with a lead campaign gift, for a total of $3 million to ensure the success of the campaign over the next three years,” Governor Foster said.

Rob J. Routs, incoming president for Shell Oil Company US and president of Shell Oil Company Foundation, was on hand to announce the donation and to accept the designation as a “World Partner” in the broad public awareness initiative, America’s WETLAND: Campaign to Save Coastal Louisiana.

“This is the single most important thing we can do to gain the nation’s support for restoring these vital wetlands for our future,” Governor Foster said. “Although the entire nation depends on Louisiana’s coastal wetlands for its energy production, seafood harvest, leading port system and wildlife habitat, very few people know they even exist.”

Among those committing support to the campaign as “National and State Partners” were:

• Jim Tripp, executive counsel, Environmental Defense
• Paul McIlhenny, president and CEO, Tabasco, Inc.
• Don Young, executive director, Ducks Unlimited
• Mark Davis, executive director, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana
• Jeff Angers, executive director, Louisiana Chapter Coastal Conservation Association
• Keith Ouchley, executive director, Louisiana Nature Conservancy
• Stephanie Desselle, senior vice president, Council for a Better Louisiana
• Lori LeBlanc, executive director, Restore or Retreat

President of Whitney National Bank and Chairman of the Governor’s Advisory Commission for Coastal Restoration and Conservation, King Milling, cited the importance of the campaign as an integral part of the state’s efforts to build national support for coastal restoration.
Campaign developer Valsin Marmillion, president, Pacific Visions Communications, described a comprehensive set of campaign strategies, including a media partner commitment by TIME For KIDS, a division of TIME Magazine, to develop educational and youth-focused materials.

A new video program, produced to help inform audiences of the educational campaign, was premiered at the Southern Governor’s Association Conference. The video features Louisiana Congressional leaders stressing the importance of America’s WETLAND to the nation’s energy and economic security and its world ecological significance.

For more information, contact: Sidney Coffee, Governor’s Office of Coastal Activities at 225-342-4844 or 225-603-3698