About
"A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people."
– Franklin D. Roosevelt
Who we Are
protecting louisiana's roots
Land Trust for Louisiana works to protect our state’s valuable (and irreplaceable) lands and waters using tools like conservation easements and land acquisition. In operation since 2005, we currently have almost 15,000 acres in conservation all over Louisiana.
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, we work cooperatively with local landowners, communities, businesses, governmental agencies, and other non-profits to protect riverbanks, save family farms, manage stormwater, create wildlife corridors, protect habitats for migrating birds, and much more. Learn more about our work and conservation properties here.
As a Louisiana-based organization, we have fished our marshes, paddled our bayous, and roamed our woodlands. We have a deep understanding of how our natural resources are intrinsically linked to the health of our environment – and how important it is to preserve our lands and waters in order to mitigate threats like climate change. In preserving Louisiana’s natural legacy, we know that we are positively impacting the health of our entire planet.
Land Trust for Louisiana Goals:
Promote Stewardship
Promote stewardship and conservation of natural areas through education and research opportunities.
Build a Coalition
Build a coalition of partners including landowners, community groups, municipal officials, and local, state, and federal agencies to achieve the mission and vision.
Preserve Waterways
Preserve streamside corridors and other buffer zones and natural areas.
Support Ecotourism
Support responsible ecotourism, recreational opportunities, and other compatible land uses.
Protect habitats
Protect valuable wildlife habitats, focusing on the most critical needs.
Conserve Land
Conserve agricultural and green areas to promote water quality, wildlife habitat, recreation, and heritage.
Pursue Professionalism
Maintain a strong organization & instill public confidence with a committed board, competent staff, a strategic vision, and policies, standards & procedures.
Land Trust for Louisiana is accredited by the national Land Trust Alliance Commission and is state certified by the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources. We are guided by the Land Trust Alliance’s Standards and Practices.
Manifesto
For Land, For People
In Louisiana, land is legacy. Our lands and waters have played a crucial role in the unique history and vibrant culture of our state, hosting communities and traditions that can’t be found anywhere else.
As stewards of the land, we are responsible for protecting that legacy while preserving some of the most fragile and important ecosystems in the country. By working to permanently conserve Louisiana’s lands and natural resources, we are ensuring that our legacy is one of sustainability, respect, and love for the place we call home.
Our Team
Executive Director
Cindy Brown
Cindy is a New Orleans native who has worked with communities, landowners, businesses, governmental entities, and others in Louisiana, the Carolinas and New York to conserve land and promote wise stewardship. She’s passionate about using tools like land conservation to protect species, preserve culture, connect people to nature, and solve problems like flooding, land loss, and pollution. Cindy’s past roles included work with The Nature Conservancy and Trust for Public Land. She graduated with a Master’s degree from Duke University and a BS from the University of New Orleans, both in the sciences.
Operations & Finance
Jennifer Dalton
Jennifer has a lifelong passion for land conservation and environmental stewardship, cultivated while working alongside her parents to conserve family lands from the Oregon coast to north Louisiana. With over 15 years of experience in both non-profit and private sectors, she has contributed to projects worldwide. An Oregon native with deep family ties in Louisiana, she’s excited to work to protect the land we all call home. Jennifer has a BA in Sociology and Communications from the University of Oregon.
Land Protection Specialist
Rick Jacob
Rick is a consulting forester and owner of Jacob Ecological Services, providing forest and wildlife management, conservation easement and wetland mitigation consulting, and geographic information systems analysis throughout Louisiana. A native of Covington, Rick graduated from LSU in 1989 with an MS in Forest Management and Economics.
Land Protection Specialist
Nelwyn McInnis
Nelwyn is President of Southern Wild LLC, a conservation consulting firm that specializes in habitat restoration; ecological habitat assessments; rare flora inventory; and wetland mitigation banks. A native of Shreveport, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Management from Northwestern State University of Louisiana and a Master of Science in Botany from Louisiana Tech University.
Ornithology Consultant
Melanie Driscoll
Melanie is a contractor who provides expertise on ecology, conservation, birds and habitats to help organizations meet their strategic conservation goals. She has worked in this capacity with the National Audubon Society, The Partnership for Gulf Coast Land Conservation, Knock Knock Children’s Museum, and Audubon Florida. Melanie developed the Important Bird Areas program for Audubon Louisiana, and led the expansion of Audubon’s Gulf Coast coastal bird stewardship programs.
Communications & Marketing
Joanna Brown
Joanna is a Lafayette-based writer primarily focused on messaging and strategic communications for Louisiana- and Gulf Coast-based organizations. Her previous experience includes work in community organizing and public health program management. She graduated with an MSc in Sociology from Oxford University, an MA in International Affairs from Boston University, and a BA in History from Louisiana State University.
Restoration Program Manager
Jacob
Bopp
Jacob Bopp is a conservation biologist dedicated to restoring the Northshore’s longleaf pine forests. Growing up in Covington, Louisiana, sparked his passion for the natural world, leading him to earn a degree in Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology from Colorado State University. He has worked with the Louisiana, New Mexico, and Oregon Departments of Fish and Wildlife, monitoring threatened species and sensitive habitats. Now, he works with the LTL to restore his beloved home region, driven by a passion for landowner collaboration and a deep connection to the Northshore.
Board of Directors executive committee
CEO
Dr. Jay Addison
A founding member, CEO, and past president of Land Trust for Louisiana, Jay and his wife Ellen own Pine Knoll Farm located on the scenic Tangipahoa River. A veterinarian and ardent conservationist, Dr. Addison is a member of various land conservation organizations across the country. His extensive travels throughout the U.S. have given him the opportunity to see firsthand how other regions approach land conservation.
Board President & Treasurer
Edward Burns
Ed has served in various civic and professional organizations such as the Hammond Rotary Club, Louisiana Society of CPAs, Hammond Chamber of Commerce, and City Club of Hammond. He earned a CPA degree from LSU and runs his own accounting firm. Ed was born and raised in Hammond, LA, and has two children with his wife Lisa.
Vice-president
Walter Antin, Jr. “Bud”
Bud is a Tax Attorney with the Antin Law Firm. He received his BA, MBA, and JD degrees from Tulane University and holds an LL.M. in Taxation from New York University. He is a Board Certified Tax Specialist and a Certified Estate Planning Administration Specialist. Bud also maintains his license as a Louisiana Certified Public Accountant.
Board Secretary
Marsha O'Brien
A native of Southeast Louisiana, Marsha is a certified project manager and MBA. As a long-time supporter of the Land Trust Alliance and The Nature Conservancy, Marsha has also served on the Stewardship Committee of the Catawba Lands Conservancy of North Carolina since 2003 and has volunteered with other land trusts and non-profit boards.
Board Members at Large
Brenna Barzenick
Brenna is a co-founder of the Land Trust for Louisiana ‘Yoga in the Sunflowers’ event, a physical therapist, and co-founder and owner of Downtown Yoga in Hammond. She believes in the healing power of nature, and is passionate about the health of people and communities. In addition to her service on our Board, she is involved with Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center and the Geaux Yoga event, which raises awareness and provides local cancer screenings.
Bessie Daschbach
Bessie is a New Orleans-based lawyer and Executive Director at the Center for Asset Retirement Accountability. She has a long record of high-impact, high-risk litigation focused on holding the oil and gas sector accountable for contamination, land loss, and equipment removal on private lands. Bessie’s extensive experience in coastal land loss litigation forms the basis of the course she teaches at Tulane University School of Law on coastal and wetlands law and policy. She holds a certificate in Sustainable Capitalism & ESG from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. Bessie has practiced with law firms in New Orleans and New York City and worked with the International Labor Organization (Bangkok), the United Nations Legal Affairs Codification Division (New York City), and the Open Society Justice Initiative (New York City). Bessie holds a JD from Tulane and an LLM in International & Comparative Law from Columbia University Law School.
P.J. Demarie, III
P.J. is in the health and life insurance industry and is very active in the St. Tammany community. As former state president of Ducks Unlimited and an active member of that organization, he offers a wide repertoire of non-profit and fundraising experiences with the Land Trust for Louisiana.
Stephen Swiber
Stephen is the Executive Vice President of the Diamond Services Corporation, a maritime company servicing the oil and gas and coastal restoration industries. Based in Morgan City, he also serves on the boards of MC Bank & Trust and the St. Mary Parish affiliate of the Community Foundation of Acadiana. He is an avid sportsman and lover of Louisiana land.
Advisory Council
Fritz Anderson, II, Region President, Planters Bank and Trust
Dana Boutwell, Fundraising Consultant
David Campbell, Attorney (ret.) & Activist
Donny Latiolais, Watershed Coordinator, Capital RC&D Council
Bonnie Lewis, Professor of Sociology (ret.) Southeastern University of Louisiana
Jill Mastrototaro, Policy Director, Audubon Mississippi
Frank Neelis, Founder, Manchac Greenway
Michael Sharp, President (ret.), First Guaranty Bank
Britain Sledge III, Attorney, Tangipahoa Parish
"A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people."
– Franklin D. Roosevelt
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The Land Trust for Louisiana is an IRS approved 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. All donations are tax deductible as allowed by law. Our EIN is 35-2239029
- 807 N Columbia St., Covington, LA 70433
