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Louisiana Cypress Mulch Industry Devastates Old-Growth Forests |
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MongaBay.com November 5, 2008
The cypress forests of
Louisiana have suffered much devastation from human development,
coastal erosion, and exploitation by the lumber industry. Now, vast
tracts are being clear cut for the production of cypress mulch. A new
online campaign — saveourcypress.org — is seeking to reform the Louisiana cypress mulch industry.
Cypress wetland forests are among the most productive wetland
ecosystems in the world, but with no state laws in place to protect
Louisiana trees, these forests are being logged without discretion, at
a rate of 20,000 acres per year. In the mid-1800s, Louisiana boasted
over two million acres of cypress-tupelo swamps; currently, fewer than
half that number currently exist.
Morgan Erickson-Davis, special to mongabay.com
MongaBay.com
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