Louisiana State Parks, Woodside Energy, Res, and McNeese State University Announce Collaboration to Restore the Native Habitats of Sam Houston Jones State Park
LAKE CHARLES, La. – Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and Louisiana State Parks, in partnership with Woodside Energy, RES, and McNeese State University, today announced a comprehensive, multi-year initiative to restore biodiversity, enhance wildlife habitat and strengthen the long-term environmental resilience of Sam Houston Jones State Park in Calcasieu Parish.
Woodside, a global energy company, is exclusively funding the project, committing $5 million over six years to restore more than 800 acres of forest habitat within the park. The investment represents the largest corporate donation ever received by a Louisiana state park and will support the restoration of the park’s distinctive longleaf pine forests, cypress-tupelo swamps, and hardwood ecosystems.
The partnership brings together expertise in conservation, ecological restoration, and environmental research to support the long-term recovery of one of Louisiana’s most visited state parks while improving opportunities for outdoor recreation, education, and tourism.
Woodside Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer International Daniel Kalms emphasized the importance of the investment in Southwest Louisiana and its relevance to the company’s longstanding presence in the state.
“With over 17 years of operations in Louisiana, Woodside is honored to participate in this collaborative public-private partnership, investing in the preservation of Louisiana’s valuable natural legacy. The initiative is another significant step forward for our ongoing investment in Southwest Louisiana, where we have committed $17.5 billion to advance the Louisiana LNG Project in Calcasieu Parish,” said Daniel Kalms, Woodside’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer International.
“I’ve always said some of Louisiana’s greatest treasures are not found inside four walls, they are found in places like Sam Houston Jones State Park. This historic investment will help ensure it remains a place families can enjoy for generations to come,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “By restoring more than 800 acres of native habitat, we are enhancing the visitor experience while protecting the natural beauty that makes Louisiana's State Parks so special. We are grateful to Woodside Energy and our partners for helping us create a healthier, more resilient landscape, improve access for visitors, and make the park an even greater destination for campers, hikers, birdwatchers, and outdoor enthusiasts from across Louisiana and beyond."
RES, a nationally recognized ecological restoration firm founded in Louisiana, will design and implement the restoration project. Planned activities include invasive species removal, site preparation, extensive native tree planting, and prescribed burns essential to longleaf pine regeneration. The project will also incorporate a comprehensive research and monitoring program focused on forest health, biodiversity, and wildlife habitat.
Over the life of the project, approximately 245,000 native trees will be planted across multiple habitat types. Restoration efforts are expected to improve ecosystem resilience, reduce wildfire risk, support native wildlife species, and strengthen the park’s ability to withstand future storm impacts.
“Sam Houston Jones State Park is one of Southwest Louisiana's most treasured natural and recreational resources, and RES is honored to help restore its forests and wetlands for future generations,” shared Frank Cuccio, General Manager, Gulf Coast for RES. “This project represents the best of what ecological restoration can achieve – bringing together public agencies, private investment, academic research, and local communities to create lasting environmental benefits.”
Research and monitoring efforts will be conducted in partnership with McNeese State University, creating new opportunities for student involvement and scientific study while helping measure the project's long-term ecological outcomes.
"This project offers significant research opportunities for McNeese State University," commented Dr. Kedrick Nicholas, McNeese State University Interim President. “The restoration not only enhances the park’s value as a community asset but also establishes a living laboratory for university-led research and ongoing ecological stewardship."
The project will also include community engagement opportunities, volunteer activities, educational outreach, and interpretive resources designed to keep the public informed throughout the restoration process.
RES created an interactive project story map park visitors and the public can access using a QR code posted inside the park. This interactive webpage will provide detailed information and maps on the restoration project happening inside Sam Houston Jones State Park.
About the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, Office of State Parks (DCRT-OSP)
Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism is a state agency and department within the Office of the Lt. Governor. The department is composed of six offices, Office of the Secretary, Office of State Library, Office of State Museum, Office of State Parks, Office of Cultural Development, and Office of Tourism. The Lieutenant Governor is the chief tourism official as commissioner of the department, involving the $18 billion tourism industry, and manages state parks, museums, and historic sites.
About the Sam Houston Jones State Park
Originally named for the Texas folk hero who traveled extensively in the western reaches of Louisiana, the park name was later changed to Sam Houston Jones in honor of the state's 46th governor, who was instrumental in setting aside this tract of land for the public to enjoy. The state park is located in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, about 10 miles (~16 km) outside Lake Charles. Established in 1944, the 1,100-acre park is one of Louisiana’s oldest and most beloved state parks with the highest annual-pass sales and one of Louisiana’s most visited state parks. Known historically for its towering longleaf pines, diverse wetlands, and native wildlife, the current state of these habitats require help to recover and thrive following the impacts of hurricanes and years of unwanted invasive plant growth.
About Woodside Energy
Woodside is a global energy company, operating across three continents. We provide the energy the world needs to heat homes, keep the lights on and support industry. Our resilient and diversified portfolio of oil, gas, and new energy projects includes Louisiana LNG and Beaumont New Ammonia. Woodside is one of the largest oil and gas producers in the Gulf of America, where we are actively expanding production and exploring.
About RES
RES - Resource Environmental Solutions, LLC is the USA’s largest dedicated nature-based solutions provider. Founded in Baton Rouge in 2007, RES is a leading U.S. ecological restoration firm with extensive experience delivering large-scale, regulatory-compliant restoration projects across the state of Louisiana. The project is staffed primarily by RES’s Louisiana-based workforce of ecologists, restoration site managers, and equipment operators, supported as needed by specialized technical staff, providing end-to-end accountability of the ecological restoration project from design through construction and establishment. RES operates a Louisiana-based native plant nursery in Montegut, Louisiana, supplying planting materials required for the restoration project at Sam Houston Jones State Park.
About McNeese State University
For over 85 years, McNeese State University has been trusted and respected as an institution of innovation and academic excellence. Ranked as one of the top public universities in the United States and one of the finest regional universities in the South. Staff from the Biological Science Department have been engaged to lead the biodiversity research on native wildlife and the restoration project will support four postgraduate research programs.