The city of Lake Charles has launched the next phase of its ReTreeLC initiative.

The initiative launched in December 2021 in an effort to replenish Lake Charles’ tree canopy, much of which was lost during the storms of 2020. Since its launch, more than 2,500 trees have been planted.

Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter said the initiative as a necessary step towards recovery.

“As we continue to recover and rebuild from the 2020 hurricanes, it is critical that we re-establish our natural environment by replanting trees across our city in a sustainable fashion,” he said.

ReTreeLC is at its core a community effort. “ReTreeLC was a vision to acknowledge the canopy that was lost from the natural disaster of 2020 and 2021 and to encourage people, not just government, but private citizens to get in the game,” he explained.“We’re encouraging people to plant the right types of trees and in the right locations, because we want to have sustainability.”

In partnership with the ReTreeLC Phase II sponsor Northrop Grumman, the city will be hosting a Community Tree Giveaway on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. The giveaway will give locals the opportunity to plant nattive tree species in their own backyard during a prime tree-planting season.

Eric Price, director of Programs 2 at Northrop Grumman, said his company’s sponsorship of Phase II is their way of showing appreciation for the area’s strength during difficult times.

“Our team has always talked about the resilience of Southwest Louisiana, but more importantly the resilience of Lake Charles,” he said.

The event will be conducted as a celebration of Louisiana Arbor Day. Those that receive trees will be given planting and care instruction.

Along with the tree giveaway, local partners have committed to hosting employee volunteer-driven tree planting at Tuten Park, Riverside Park, McMillian Park, JD Clifton Park and the Lagrange Soccer Park. These partners include Sasol, Tellurian, Cheniere and Lyondell Basell.

In addition, Phase II of the ReTreeLC Initiative will institute free educational seminars for local students. In partnership with the Calcasieu Parish School Board, McNeese State University and the Calcasieu Parish Public Library. These seminars, set to take place in November, will offer outdoor classroom experiences for John F. Kennedy Early Childhood Center and Molo Middle School students.

Shannon LaFargue, CPSB superintendent, said it is vital to be “bringing a classroom and experiencing nature, but also being educated about the importance of trees, about the importance of environmentalism, about the importance of partnerships.”

He continued by explaining that the efforts of community partnerships will not be lost on the students. “When they come out here and they see all of the community investment from industry, from the partnerships we have with other municipalities or other government agencies, it only enforces the fact that Southwest Louisiana is back and it’s going to be stronger than ever.”

Byungkyun Chung, McNeese State University professor, and Bruce Wyman, McNeese State University, from the Harold & Pearl Dripps School of Agriculture, explained the overlooked benefits of trees for both the environment and the community.

“We know trees are one of our partners in nature, they share lots of benefits for us,” said Chung.  He explained that trees affect energy consumption, carbon content levels and air quality.

In addition to the ecological benefits that trees provide, Wyman emphasized that the aesthetic qualities of trees contribute to the area’s quality of life. “We don’t want to forget about the pleasing aspect of trees,” he said.

With their students at McNeese, they are participating in canopy recovery studies, including research via Google Maps to better understand the area’s pre-disaster canopy and a study to find the most suitable tree for recovery.

For residents that want to take it upon themselves to plant trees at their homes, they said there are four main factors to consider: growth potential, soil type, drainage aide and landscape. Recommended local trees include live oaks, pecan trees and cypress trees. It is best to avoid sweet-fruit bearing trees to avoid pests.

Hunter emphasized that ReTreeLC is dependent on community participation. “It is our hope, through this continued effort, to be leaders in the responsible reforestation of our city, but we cannot do it alone,” he said.

“When’s the best time to plant a tree? 50 years ago. The 2nd best time is today.”

Residents are encouraged to use the hashtag “#RETreeLC” on social media after planting trees at their home.