What Woodlands Conservancy does

Woodlands Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2001 and headquartered in Belle Chasse, Louisiana, operating Woodlands Trail and Park across a 10,000-acre peninsula formed by Orleans and Plaquemines Parishes. The organization preserves and restores one of the last stands of bottomland hardwoods in southeastern Louisiana, providing 13+ miles of public trails for hiking, birding, and environmental education, with free dawn-to-dusk public access. Beyond the trail itself, the organization offers a tiered membership program ($25–$2,000), an Adopt-A-Tree native seedling program, merchandise (Glen Weber artwork and Mignon Faget-designed Palmetto jewelry), and recurring events including the Woodlands Trail Classic 5K and the Mississippi Riverboat History Cruise. It is sustained by a 6-person staff and a volunteer base that has planted over 6,000 seedlings and contributed more than 1,000 student hours in restoration seasons.

The organization has no proprietary technology platform; its digital footprint is a basic informational website and a Constant Contact email list. Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit model: membership dues and individual donations, foundation and corporate grants (historically from Chevron, ConocoPhillips, BP, Entergy, National Wildlife Federation, and the Greater New Orleans Foundation), event fundraising, and merchandise sales. Customer segments span general public visitors, K-12 schools, university research and service-learning programs, corporate sponsors, and government agencies (Plaquemines and Orleans Parishes, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries). Key formal partnerships include integration into the Mississippi River Trail, designation as an American Heritage Rivers Initiative Keystone project, and a 200+ donor endowment fund established at the Greater New Orleans Foundation in 2012. The organization does not publicly disclose revenue figures pero its documented fundraising events, grants, and gala proceeds indicate a small-scale operating budget consistent with a community-driven land trust of its size.

Name

Woodlands Conservancy

Legal name

Woodlands Conservancy

Website

https://woodlandtrail.bizland.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Woodlands Conservancy is a Belle Chasse, Louisiana 501(c)(3) nonprofit that preserves one of the last stands of bottomland hardwoods in southeastern Louisiana, operating 13+ miles of public trails and funding conservation through grants, memberships, and events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation & Environmental Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Support Activities for Forestry (11531)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH), Forestry & Ecosystem Carbon Removal (Afforestation/Reforestation, Improved Forest Management) (EUABAFAH)

Keywords

• Ecosystem conservation services
• Environmental education programs
• Recreational trail management
• Wildlife habitat restoration
• Nonprofit land stewardship

Headquarters

HQ city

Belle Chasse

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership program with tiered pricing from Explorer ($25) to Corporate Leader ($2,000), providing recurring revenue from individual and corporate supporters.
2. Donations and Contributions: General donations, endowment contributions, and special project funding received from individuals, corporations, and foundations to support conservation and restoration work.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including Glen Weber's Seasons of Birds artwork ($100-$6,000), Mignon Faget Palmetto jewelry ($140-$2,500), and educational DVDs ($10).
4. Event Fundraising: Annual fundraising events including the Mississippi Riverboat History Cruise and Woodlands Trail Classic 5K/fun run that generate revenue through sponsorships and participant fees.
5. Grants: Grant funding from government programs (Louisiana Recreational Trails program), foundations (National Wildlife Federation, Greater New Orleans Foundation), and corporate giving programs to support specific conservation projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Woodlands Conservancy operates and maintains Woodlands Trail, a 13+ mile network of public recreation trails through bottomland hardwood forest in Belle Chasse, Louisiana, offering free public access from dawn to dusk for hiking, bird watching, and environmental education. The organization conducts ecosystem restoration including invasive species removal and native tree planting, runs an Adopt-A-Tree dedication program, and hosts educational activities, annual fundraising events, and branded merchandise sales to sustain its conservation mission.

Product overview

Woodlands Conservancy operates a trail and park system offering outdoor recreation and environmental education. The core product is Woodlands Trail (12+ miles of hiking trails) open free to the public. Supporting offerings include membership tiers, an Adopt-A-Tree program, and various merchandise (art prints and jewelry). The organization also hosts recurring events including the annual Woodlands Trail Classic (5K run), Mississippi Riverboat History Cruise, and Saturday educational activities such as water quality testing and guided health hikes. Physical amenities include the Daybrook Pavilion and a proposed Interpretive Center designed for sustainable construction.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Woodlands Trail A network of 13+ miles of public recreation trails through bottomland hardwood forest in Belle Chasse, Louisiana, open to the public free of charge from dawn to dusk for hiking, biking, bird watching, and nature photography. Includes interpretive signage and historic WWII ammunition magazines as cultural heritage features.
• Annual Membership Program Annual membership tiers providing varying levels of support: Explorer ($25), Scout ($50), Guide ($100), Trail Blazer ($250), Pioneer ($1,000), and Corporate Leader ($2,000). Provides recurring revenue from individual and corporate supporters.
• Adopt-A-Tree Program Tree dedication program allowing individuals to adopt native seedlings or trees for occasions such as holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries, with GPS coordinates provided for dedicated trees. Pricing tiers: Single Seedling $5, Grove of 100 seedlings $350, One acre (300 seedlings) $1,000. Includes personalized certificate.
• Glen Weber's Seasons of Birds Art Collection Four original watercolor art pieces (20x48 inches) depicting seasonal birds (Yellow-Crowned Night Heron, Egret, Egret, Blue Heron), with limited edition giclees available. Full set priced at $6,000, individual originals $1,800 each; giclees (10x24) full set $360, individual $100. Remarqued versions +$30-$35.
• Mignon Faget Palmetto Jewelry Sterling silver and 14K gold jewelry collection featuring a palmetto design exclusive to Woodlands Conservancy, available as pendants, lapel pins, and earrings. Sterling Silver pendant $140 (with chain $150); lapel pin $300. 14K Gold pendant $1,200 (with chain $1,250); earrings $2,500.
• Woodlands Trail Classic 5K and Fun Run Annual 5K and 1-mile Fun Run family fundraising event held at Woodlands Trail, featuring live music and refreshments. Generates revenue through participant fees and event sponsorships.
• Mississippi Riverboat History Cruise Annual fundraising event aboard the Creole Queen paddlewheeler featuring history storytelling, live music, silent auction, and river views. Generates revenue through sponsorships and participant fees.
• Woodlands Trail Documentary DVD - Struggle to Survive 30-minute educational documentary examining the value of native forests, invasive species problems, and ecosystem restoration efforts. Available on DVD for a $10 contribution plus shipping.

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and supporting.

• Plaquemines Parish GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001Primary government partner providing land access, operational support, and political backing for trail development and conservation efforts since the organization's founding. Plaquemines Parish President Benny Rousselle and later Billy Nungesser have been key supporters.
• Louisiana State University - Office of Community Design and DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for interpretive center and river pavilion design work. Students provided site assessments, GPS trail marking, and conceptual design illustrations for park amenities.
• Barataria-Terrebonne National Estype Program (BTNEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ecosystem restoration, invasive species treatment, and educational programs. Provided funding for 20-acre restoration project and educational materials development.
• Louisiana Department of Wildlife and FisheriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Natural Areas Registry designation, birding surveys, and habitat assessments. Provided support for identifying native and invasive vegetation.
• Orleans Audubon SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner providing interpretive hikes, birding expertise, and resolution support for NRDA projects. David Muth, founding member, leads guided birding tours.
• The Conservation FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdministers the Kodak American Greenways Awards program. Recognized Woodlands Trail as national model for innovative greenway development efforts.
• American Heritage Rivers InitiativeflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecognized as one of three American Heritage Rivers Initiative 'Keystone' projects for Louisiana, demonstrating national significance of the conservation effort.
• Our Lady of Holy Cross CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Veterans History Project oral history collection, hosting press conferences, and providing educational programming support.
• California State University Channel IslandscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor Sean Anderson and students conducted invasive species assessments and ecosystem restoration monitoring over six seasons, providing standardized pre- and post-treatment data.
• Oregon State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. John Lambrinos provided expertise for invasive species treatment methodology and post-treatment assessment protocols.
• Bayou RebirthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partner engaging volunteers in wetlands restoration and stewardship projects. Organized team leader training for spring break volunteer coordination.
• Library of Congress - Veterans History ProjectsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for oral history collection documenting veterans' experiences at the former Naval Ammunition Depot property.
• Mississippi River Trail OrganizationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorsed Woodlands Trail as part of the national Mississippi River Trail, integrating the project into a multi-state trail network.
• Louisiana Department of Agriculture and ForestrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for team leader training, volunteer coordination, plant and wildlife identification, and trail clearing techniques.
• Algiers Economic Development FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNominated Woodlands Trail for Preserve America Presidential Award. Supported nominations for various conservation awards.
• Delta Chapter Sierra ClubsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPassed supporting resolution for Woodlands Conservancy's NRDA projects and provided financial contribution to greenway corridor efforts.
• Louisiana Ornithological SocietysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided support for Woodlands greenway corridor project through generous contributions.
• Crescent Bird ClubsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributed to Woodlands greenway corridor project supporting migratory bird habitat.
• Regional Planning CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in regional planning for greenway corridors and transportation linkages in the Greater New Orleans area.
• Land Trust AlliancesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization supporting land trust efforts, providing resources and guidance for conservation activities.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bayou Rebirth: Listed partner of Woodlands. Wetlands restoration nonprofit engaging volunteers in stewardship projects - direct operational overlap in coastal restoration volunteer coordination.
• Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program: Active partner of Woodlands providing funding for 20-acre restoration project and educational materials. Operates in the same estuary region with overlapping restoration and education mission.
• Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana: Regional Louisiana nonprofit that awarded Woodlands its Coastal Stewardship Award. Both organizations work on coastal restoration, advocacy, and public engagement around Louisiana's eroding coastline.

Broad incumbents

• Ducks Unlimited: Wetlands and waterfowl habitat conservation nonprofit with deep operations in Louisiana bottomlands. Overlapping mission in coastal forest preservation and waterbird habitat, though DU focuses more on wetlands than upland hardwoods.
• The Nature Conservancy: Global land and water conservation nonprofit that acquires and manages conservation lands, including bottomland hardwoods in Louisiana. Comparable model of stewarding large forested acreage for ecological and public benefit.
• National Audubon Society: Major national bird and habitat conservation nonprofit with local chapters (Orleans Audubon Society is a direct partner of Woodlands). Comparable mission around migratory bird habitat and bottomland hardwood preservation, but operates at national scale.
• Trust for Public Land: National land conservation nonprofit focused on creating parks and protecting natural areas for public use. Highly comparable mission of preserving natural lands for public recreation and education.

Others

• Land Trust Alliance: National umbrella organization supporting local land trusts, of which Woodlands is a member/partner. Provides comparable conservation-easement-style land stewardship framework at national scale.

Regional players

• Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation: Louisiana regional nonprofit engaged in coastal watershed restoration, education, and advocacy. Comparable as a coastal Louisiana environmental nonprofit with educational programming and public access missions.
• Pontchartrain Conservancy: Regional nonprofit focused on Lake Pontchartrain Basin restoration in southeast Louisiana. Highly comparable as a regional conservation nonprofit operating education programs, public access, and habitat restoration in the same metro area.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/woodlands-conservancy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Woodlands Conservancy