Eco Tourism Director Discusses Fun, Education & Adventure With Conservation Area Of Nearly 50,000 Acres
The marsh of the Louisiana Outback is like a comfortable blanket. The swirling winds. The crystal waters. The flapping wings of birds. The rustling of animals in the undergrowth. This is where Bobby Jorden grew up, in the beauty Of LaFayette Parish, just east of Lake Charles. After earning a degree in Natural Resource Conservation Management at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Jorden returned once again to the land he came from to encourage the education, fun and adventure it provides in helping run Grosse Savanne Eco-Tours. While journeying on boat in search of wildlife in their vast expanse of natural habitat, Jorden spoke with The Buzz about ecology, passion and the natural wonder of the area.
The Buzz: Your family runs and owns all of this land. How does one have to approach it to make it both sustainable and conducive for business ?
Bobby Jorden: We’re very blessed and fortunate to have as much land as we do and a lot of diversity among the eco-system on the property that we do own. We have coastal prairies and remnant pieces of native coastal prairie which are pieces of untouched land that are very hard to come by. We also have these thriving freshwater marshes as well as these brackish and more salted flow marshes. The diversity between the different areas makes it easy to encounter various and numerous different species of birds [and plant life] that utilize some of these different areas.
The Buzz: Can you speak on the expanse of this area under ownership?
BJ: We own roughly about 55,000 acres in a fairly contiguous block…one large mass. There are some remnant pieces here and there…but [we have] several square miles of land that is un-encompassed. And just the management of that large of a property takes a lot of input.
The Buzz: Plus you’ve had to work with everyone adjusting the different facets of the land including the plantation, the farm and raising the cattle for optimum efficiency. Can you talk about that?
BJ: That is a really interesting dynamic as well. All these different visions or entities within the company, all kind of work together and benefit from each other. The farming provides habitat for the wintering ducks and geese which we see only in the winter months. The cattle keep some of the grass in the pasture down [before then] so that the ducks and geese can utilize [the area]. So it is a large cyclical team effort to not only keep the land but [to] make it flourish.
The Buzz: You’ve heightened the customer experience with the maintenance of the clarity of the water while also reintroduced certain fish species to balance it out invasive species. This showcases an innate an instinct with the ecology. How does that enhance the tours on a ground entry level?
BJ: This particular marsh is very unique in that we can actively manage it. We can combat some of the invasive species and vegetation and keep some of these waterways open and enhance the overall environment. So from a customer standpoint, you are coming to a pristine, actively managed, freshwater setting.
The Buzz: But from a business operator point of view, there are a variety of revenue streams from fishing guides to culinary options to eco-tours.
BJ: We have developed, particularly from a freshwater fishing standpoint, a world class situation down here where people have seen and experienced it…and the word’s getting out. People are coming from all over the country to come experience what we have built and created down here. It has been highly successful because of the management and the input we’ve put into it.
The Buzz: What have you found people respond to most in these types of tours?
BJ: I would say the general person who comes on these tours is typically from out-of-state. The number one attraction, as you would imagine, is the American alligator. And we are fortunate to have a plentiful supply…and we can typically locate them fairly easily. Beyond that I would definitely say the birding. We are blessed with over 400 species of birds that travel to and from the air.
The Buzz: And you have become a “birder” by default right?
BJ: Absolutely! (chuckling) It is part of the job now. It is something that I have really grown to enjoy.
The Buzz: You grew up in this area. Can you talk about how a place can imbue you and seep into your bones from an early age?
BJ: I spent the majority of my childhood down in these marshes in Southwest Louisiana. And it was something that was kind of always really close to my heart. And some thing I was always very fond of…
The Buzz: The history and culture as well?
BJ: All of it. Being out here surrounded by this vast wilderness is really kind of surreal. It makes you feel small which I think at times is a good thing. The beauty you see out here…it is a tough landscape to beat.
Tim Wassberg
A graduate of New York University's Tisch School Of The Arts with degrees in Film/TV Production & Film Criticism, Tim has written for magazines such as Moviemaker, Moving Pictures, Conde Nast Traveler UK and Casino Player. He enjoys traveling and distinct craft beers among other things.
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