Woodside Energy announced a $5 million investment to restore biodiversity and strengthen environmental resilience at Sam Houston Jones State Park in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.
The multi-year initiative will be delivered in partnership with the Louisiana Office of State Parks, RES, and McNeese State University.
The project is being led in coordination with Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and brings together conservation, habitat restoration, and environmental research expertise.
Woodside is exclusively funding the project and will commit $5 million over six years.
The investment will support the restoration of more than 800 acres of forest habitat within the park.
Woodside said the contribution is the largest corporate donation ever received by a state park in Louisiana.
The project is intended to support long-term recovery of the park’s native ecosystems, including longleaf pine, cypress tupelo swamps, and hardwood forests.
Woodside said the initiative is part of its continued investment in Southwest Louisiana, where the company and its partners are committing $17.5 billion to the Louisiana LNG Project in Calcasieu Parish.
RES, an ecological restoration organization that originated in Louisiana, will design and implement the project.
Restoration work is expected to include site preparation, extensive tree planting, invasive plant species removal, and prescribed burns that support longleaf pine regeneration.
The project will also include a research and monitoring program focused on forest habitats and keystone wildlife.
RES ecologists will conduct the research in collaboration with McNeese State University.
McNeese State University said the project will also create a living laboratory for university-led research and ongoing ecological stewardship.
The partners said the restoration effort will improve habitat health, support biodiversity, enhance visitor access, and strengthen Sam Houston Jones State Park as a destination for campers, hikers, birdwatchers, and outdoor enthusiasts.
KEY QUOTES:
“With more than 17 years of operations in Louisiana, Woodside is honored to participate in this collaborative public-private partnership, investing in the preservation of Louisiana’s valuable natural legacy. The initiative is another significant step forward for our ongoing investment in Southwest Louisiana, where Woodside and its partners are committing $17.5 billion to the Louisiana LNG Project in Calcasieu Parish.”
Daniel Kalms, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer International at Woodside Energy
“I’ve always said some of Louisiana’s greatest treasures are not found inside four walls, they are found in places like Sam Houston Jones State Park. This historic investment will help ensure it remains a place families can enjoy for generations to come.”
“By restoring more than 800 acres of native habitat, we are enhancing the visitor experience while protecting the natural beauty that makes Louisiana’s State Parks so special. We are grateful to Woodside Energy and our partners for helping us create a healthier, more resilient landscape, improve access for visitors, and make the park an even greater destination for campers, hikers, birdwatchers, and outdoor enthusiasts from across Louisiana and beyond.”
Billy Nungesser, Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana
“Sam Houston Jones State Park is one of Southwest Louisiana’s most treasured natural and recreational resources, and RES is honored to help restore its forests and wetlands for future generations. This project represents the best of what ecological restoration can achieve – bringing together public agencies, private investment, academic research and local communities to create lasting environmental benefits.”
Frank Cuccio, General Manager, Gulf Coast at RES
“The restoration not only enhances the Park’s value as a community asset but also establishes a living laboratory for university-led research and ongoing ecological stewardship.”
Dr. Kedrick Nicholas, Interim President of McNeese State University
