PANEL DISCUSSION 



CAUSES: PHENOMENA DIRECTLY RELATED TO HUMAN ACTIVITIES 



Roger Saucier, Moderator 



Andre Delfloche, James G. Gosselink, R. Eugene Turner, Michael 

 Lyons, Joan Phillips, and John Woodard, Panelists 



Joan Phillips: The environmental community has been interested in the problem of 

 wetland loss in Louisiana for over 10 years. The environmental community coalesces 

 on the one idea of preserving renewable resources which produce revenue, food and 

 cultural heritage. On the other hand, non-renewable resources must also be 

 conserved. We must not let renewable resources be destroyed in the process of 

 extracting nonrenewable resources. Environmentalists have been expressing concern 

 and appearing before legislators on the need to protect renewable wetland resources 

 in the exploitation of nonrenewable resources since at least 1976. We should have 

 been mitigating these imjxicts since the depth of the wetlands loss problem was 

 recognized. We must begin the process of correcting these mistakes immediately. 



We have had some progress including the adoption of a coastal zone 

 management program and permitting of wetlands activities under this program. But 

 is it working? Are new canals being shortened or eliminated where possible? Are 

 we using all techniques feasible and practicable to preserve and conserve renewable 

 resources? My concern is that we are not presently accomplishing these 

 objectives. Out of 1,300 coastal use permits issued thus far by the Louisiana 

 Department of Natural Resources, two were appealed, but a stay order to halt the 

 activities could not be gained before the appeals were heard by the Coastal 

 Commission. There is no communication on the feasibility of directional drilling to 

 reduce the need for wetland dredging between the Coastal Management Section and 

 the Office of Conservation, both within the Louisiana Department of Natural 

 Resources. When is the expertise and staff necessary for thorough evaluation of 

 permits going to be available? 



The nonrenewable resources will be there in years to come if not exploited 

 now, thus we must stop now the destruction of renewable wetland resources in this 

 exploitation. Other states seem to be recognizing the importance of water 

 resources. For example, Florida has enacted a law placing a 5-cent sales tax on 

 every $100 of property sold to be used for protection of water resources. Such a 

 continuous source of funding is needed in Louisiana to protect water resources, 

 enable sound permitting and acquire important wetlands. 



The environmental community will be there to at least assure that 

 environmental laws are implemented. We charge the scientific community to 

 develop the data necessary to determine what kinds of activities and in what 

 intensity can be allowed in wetlands without jeopardizing production of renewable 

 resources. We ask the public to join in our pursuit of wetlands preservation. We ask 

 the Legislature to fund the acquisition of knowledge and sound management and 

 protection of wetland resources. 



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