In February of 2020, the LSU AgCenter, with the support of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), surveyed landowners enrolled in conservation easement programs that aim to protect and restore wetlands and wildlife habitat, including the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP), Agricultural Conservation Easement Program-Wetland Reserve Easement (ACEP-WRE) and Emergency Watershed Protection Program-Floodplain Easement (EWPP-FPE). This infographic reports the findings of landowners of Louisiana forested easements and their management characteristics.

292 Survey Participants

39% of total WRP, ACEP-WRE and EWPP-FPE restored acreage in Louisiana is owned by these survey participants.

They are enrolled in:

• 97% WRP
• 1% ACEP-WRE
• 2% EWPP-FPE

411 acres is the average easement size.

4 acres is the minimum. 4,700 acres is the maximum.

Ownership Reasons

• 51% Family heritage
• 30% Long-term investment
• 49% Protect/improve wildlife habitat
• 61% Personal recreation
• 12% Provide fee-based recreation

Easement Acquisition

Management Activities Landowners Are Interested In Adopting

• 17% Reestablish vegetation
• 18% Thinning
• 3% Prescribed burning
• 18% Control invasive species
• 47% Mowing and disking

Reasons For Managing The Easement

• 41% Restore forest health
• 32% Restore environmental functions
• 24% Habitat for nongame species
• 64% Increase game species population
  
• 36% Improve aesthetics

Thinning Preferences