In 1990, U.S. conservationists repurposed thousands of discarded Christmas trees to slow coastal erosion. Thirty-six years later, the unusual experiment produced thriving wetlands, healthier wildlife habitats, and stronger natural defenses against storms

How Recycled Christmas Trees Are Saving Louisiana’s Coastline: Louisiana has lost over 2,000 square miles of coastline since the 1930s. But one simple experiment is working. Since 1990, thousands of recycled Christmas trees have been dropped into fragile marshes. These trees trap floating sediment, rebuild lost wetlands, and slow land loss. Decades later, old holiday trash has become Louisiana’s strongest natural defense against coastal erosion and severe storms.