From Unproductive Farmland to Biodiverse Forest: The Story of Canard Brake
In the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley, land tells stories. Some are about abundance—fertile soils, vast forests, and millions of migratory birds. Others are about loss—deforestation, erosion, and farming practices that became harder to sustain as the climate shifted.
One of those stories is unfolding at Canard Brake, a tract of land that was cleared in the 1960s for soybean and cotton farming. For decades, this seemed productive. But in recent years, increasingly severe seasonal flooding has devastated crops, often destroying them before harvest. What was once considered valuable farmland is now recognized for something else: its potential to be part of a growing network of land restored for wildlife, community resilience, and the climate.
Why Canard Brake Matters
Location is everything. Canard Brake sits right next to the Dewey Wills Wildlife Management Area and close to Catahoula Lake—a wetland internationally recognized under the RAMSAR Convention. Catahoula Lake is the most important inland wetland in Louisiana for migratory waterfowl, making this area essential for global bird migration routes.
By reforesting Canard Brake, we’re not just planting trees—we’re linking habitats, helping species move safely across landscapes, and creating new spaces for biodiversity to thrive.
Bringing Back Bottomland Hardwood Forest
Before large-scale clearing for agriculture, bottomland hardwood forests dominated the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley. Today, they cover just 2% of their former range. Restoring them is one of the most effective ways to:
Forests sequester carbon in soils and trees, locking away harmful greenhouse gases.
Rebuild biodiversity by providing food and shelter for birds, mammals, pollinators, and countless plant species.
Protect water systems by slowing down floods, filtering runoff, and supporting healthier wetlands.
At Canard Brake, species are carefully selected based on soil moisture levels, creating a forest that reflects the site’s natural gradient and can thrive long into the future.
Science at the Core
Reforestation here isn’t just about planting trees—it’s also about learning. FORGE is conducting long-term research at Canard Brake, measuring both soil organic carbon and carbon stored in aboveground biomass. This data will shed light on how newly restored bottomland hardwood forests function as carbon sinks in a changing climate.
The results won’t just inform this site—they’ll contribute to a broader understanding of how reforestation can support climate solutions worldwide.
From Risk to Resilience
The story of Canard Brake is one of turning loss into opportunity. Land that could no longer sustain reliable crops is being transformed into a living landscape that supports:
Local and migratory wildlife
Cleaner waterways and healthier wetlands
Climate resilience for the entire region
What was once a challenge for farmers is now becoming a beacon of restoration, showing how communities and ecosystems can adapt together.
Looking Ahead
As Canard Brake grows back into forest, it becomes part of something much larger: a regional mosaic of restored lands across the Louisiana Delta. This work demonstrates that restoration is not only possible but essential—linking communities, wildlife, and climate action in powerful ways.
By investing in places like Canard Brake, we are investing in the future—a future where healthy forests and wetlands protect both people and nature, turning degraded land into landscapes of resilience.
