Phillip Riccobono Volunteers in New Orleans Wetlands

2016 Mar 14

Phillip Riccobono of Schenectady, NY, spent two days gator-crawling through a gooey marsh, planting native grasses to help slow the erosion that's costing Louisiana a football field of coastal land every hour.

Riccobono, who is majoring in Spanish/Geography at SUNY Oneonta, took part in a wetlands restoration service-learning project in the Lower 9th Ward from Feb. 27-March 7. Working with a nonprofit organization called Common Ground Relief, 12 SUNY Oneonta students planted hardy, fast-growing native plants and removed invasive species in coastal areas imperiled by hurricanes, development and engineering projects that have eroded land and endangered wildlife.

They were accompanied by Wendy Lascell, assistant professor of geography and environmental science, and Linda Drake, director of the college's Center for Social Responsibility and Community. This is the second consecutive year for the trip, which is part of Lascell's Geography 294: Disaster Geographies of Post-Katrina New Orleans course.

Being immersed in real-world problems, and having the chance to make a difference, was a powerful experience.

"I had an amazing time on this trip," said Riccobono. "It was really eye-opening to see how, more than a decade after the hurricane, there is still plenty that needs to be done. It really struck me how the neighborhood we were staying in, the Lower 9th Ward, was once a neighborhood completely packed with houses but even now is still filled with hundreds of vacant, overgrown lots, with streets completely neglected by the city. Outside of the city, working with the environment is a completely ongoing process. On our first day of work, we had to spray herbicide on invasive trees in a swamp. While it sometimes may feel like a losing battle with endless work to be done, it was very encouraging seeing how much we actually accomplished so quickly. It showed me that it's totally possible to reach our goals, we just need to keep on fighting for our cause."

The trip was supported by a Domestic Intercultural Immersion Grant offered through SUNY Oneonta's StAR (Strategic Allocation of Resources) program.

See photos and learn more on the group's Facebook page.