None The Nature Conservancy in Louisiana Press Releases Search All Press Releases Brent A. Sims Phone: (225) 338-1040 E-mail: bsims@tnc.org Nelwyn McInnis Phone: (985) 809-1414 E-mail: nmcinnis@tnc.org

Talisheek Preserve Becomes Louisiana's Second Largest Preserve

The Nature Conservancy of Louisiana adds acres to the Talisheek Pine Wetlands preserve to create their second largest nature preserve.

Baton Rouge, LA—August 21, 2002—The Nature Conservancy of Louisiana acquired an additional tract of land at The Talisheek Pine Wetlands Preserve, one of the largest remaining tracts of pine wetland on the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain.

The Nature Conservancy of Louisiana acquired a second tract of land, 1,310 acres, adjacent to their original 1,460-acre tract, bought in 1998, which created The Talisheek Pine Wetland Preserve. This brings the nature preserve's total acreage to 2,770, the second largest nature preserve owned by The Conservancy in Louisiana, and the largest in St. Tammany Parish, where TNC has helped to conserve over 28,000 acres to date. The Talisheek Preserve, located about eight miles northeast of Abita Springs, is dominated by longleaf pine forest on the uplands and open wet pine savanna and bayhead forest in the lower flats. Longleaf pine habitat is a high conservation priority because very little of the original 1.3 million acres still remain in Louisiana. Over 20 rare or uncommon species are found in the preserve including the gopher tortoise, Bachman's sparrow, mud salamander, pitcher plants, pine woods' lily and bog flame flower. Wetlands are ecologically important areas that harbor rich biodiversity, purify the water that passes through them and minimize the threat of floods by slowly releasing stored floodwater downstream.

The Conservancy worked closely with the Goodyear family, the former landowners, to purchase the second of two tracts within this unique habitat. "Talisheek Pine Wetlands is part of one of the largest remaining tracts of pine wetlands on the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain", said Nelwyn McInnis, Florida Parishes Program Manager of The Nature Conservancy of Louisiana’s Northshore Field Office. It is the intention of both The Nature Conservancy and the Goodyear family to continue to develop opportunities for environmentally sensitive development and conservation management.

A press event will be held at the clubhouse of Money Hill Golf and Country Club, located adjacent to the preserve, on August 21, 2002, at 9:00 a.m. Optional field trips will be offered to the Talisheek Preserve. The public is invited.