The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Preserve Description

This preserve is located in the Southwest Louisiana “cheniers”, a French term for “places of oaks”.   Maritime forests in the Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes ecoregion are widely recognized as critical stopover habitat for nearctic-neotropical migrant birds, and the Hollister Chenier is part of a larger chenier complex that is well-known as an important bird area in Louisiana.  Currently no more than 500 acres of chenier habitat are afforded permanent protection.

Due to a combination of habitat conversion and incompatible management, high-quality examples of natural plant communities such as those contained in the Hollister Chenier Preserve are quite rare today.  The focal target at the Hollister Chenier is the live oak-hackberry-dwarf palmetto forest, which is currently only protected on two other sites.

Project Partners

The preserve was established in 2004 via conservation servitude with the Hollister family:  Lloyd K. Hollister, Dale R. Hollister, and Lynne Hollister Houk.  The preserve is open for public visitation during the spring and fall bird migration seasons.  Please see the visitation guidelines below.

Support for this project was generously provided by The Baton Rouge Audubon Society, The National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, and The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Location

The preserve is located in southern Cameron Parish, approximately 5 miles east of Grand Chenier.

Size

54 acres.

Why the Conservancy Selected this Site

The Conservancy selected this site for its location within the chenier plain, the presence of important native plant communities, and its potential for chenier woodland restoration.

What the Conservancy Has Done / Is Doing

The Conservancy is working to restore the native live oak-hackberry-dwarf palmetto forest through tree planting operations and control of invasive species.

Things To Do

Plan Your Visit

The preserve is open for visitation March 15 – May 15 and October 1 – 31.  Any other access must be requested by calling The Nature Conservancy at (225) 338-1040.  Please observe the following guidelines during your visit:

·         The preserve is open during daylight hours only.

·         Children must be accompanied by an adult.  

·         There are no restroom facilities available on site.

·         Dogs and other pets are not permitted.

·         Do not collect, remove, injure, damage, or destroy any artifact or mineral or any animal living or dead.

·         No hunting, trapping, fishing, or discharge of firearms is allowed.

·         No camping is allowed.  Please do not litter.

·         Absolutely no fires are allowed, and smoking is not permitted in the preserve.

·         No permanent photography blinds may be constructed.  Portable blinds are allowed, but we ask that you remove them when you leave.

·         Do not scatter feed or seed of any kind. 

·         Do not use taped calls to attract wildlife.

·         Keep your vehicle locked at all times, and do not leave equipment or valuables in your vehicle.  Do not leave equipment unattended on the preserve.

·         Please respect the rights of adjacent landowners.  Do not trespass.  Please do not use any entrance other than the one designed for the preserve.

·         Enter at your own risk.  Landowner incurs limited liability for injury or loss due to recreational use per LA R.S. 9:2795. 

Directions

From Grand Chenier, go east on LA Hwy 82 approximately 5 miles.

• Look for a parish dumping station on your left.  The preserve begins immediately afterward on the north side of the road.
• The preserve is bordered on the west by the dumping station, on the south by Hwy 82, and on the east by a pasture.  If you reach Rockefeller Refuge, you’ve gone about 4 miles too far.
• Park safely off of the road, as there is no parking lot available at this preserve.

Discussion

Have you been to this preserve? Are you thinking of visiting? See what others are saying about their experiences and add your comments below.

Add Your Comments

Time for you to join the discussion. Tell us about your experience at this preserve. What plants and animals did you see? When did you go? You can help others plan their visit when you share your thoughts. And thank you for visiting one of our nature preserves!

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