Presidents’ Forum on Meeting Coastal Challenges

As Louisiana continues to pursue long-term coastal restoration goals, it is only fitting that its universities take a lead role in addressing the near-term, politically sensitive and economically challenging implications of the state’s devastating coastal land loss problem. With that objective in mind, the LSU System Office, LSU Agricultural Center and the Louisiana Sea Grant College Program convened the first Presidents’ Forum on Meeting Coastal Challenges in January 2005 at the LSU Baton Rouge campus.

At the first Forum, a panel of scientists gave a stark assessment of the current status of wetland loss, hurricane vulnerability, subsidence, spatial data and coastal resource economics to the 120 participants. Members of the organization Parishes Against Coastal Erosion (PACE) also identified a number of areas in which Louisiana’s universities might assist PACE with the immediate challenges facing their communities.

A meeting summary, minutes and presentations from the January 25, 2005, Forum, as well as additional resources, are available. Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, a half-day seminar on reducing coastal hazards was held where experts from across the state, and internationally recognized natural hazards mitigation expert Dennis Hwang, shared their expertise. Presentations from the October 17, 2005, Seminar are also available.

During the March 23, 2006, Forum, state and national experts in coastal hazards, land use planning, zoning, insurance and building codes discussed possible solutions to adequately protect the health, safety and well-being of Louisiana’s coastal residents.

The Third Presidents’ Forum, held March 20, 2007, provided an opportunity for state and community leaders to learn about the accepted pool of scientific information on global climate change and discuss its implications for coastal Louisiana. Presentations from the March 20, 2007 meeting are available by clicking the links to the left.

The Fourth Presidents’ Forum held on June 16, 2008, focused on the insurability of the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, and welcomed new partners into the lecture series. Held in New Orleans, Forum topics included flood insurance, reinsurance, floodplain mapping, public and private insurance providers, and comprehensive planning as it relates to natural hazards.