Alabama Students Use Christmas Trees to Restore Gulf Coast Dunes
Alabama Students Use Christmas Trees to Restore Gulf Coast Dunes
US · Published Aug 24, 2026
Since 2021, high school students in Alabama have been leading a coastal restoration project along the Gulf Coast by repurposing discarded Christmas trees to trap sand and rebuild dunes.
Each year, approximately 200 students and community volunteers place recycled trees along the shoreline in Gulf Shores, Alabama, and plant around 3,000 native plants such as sea oats and panicgrass to stabilize the dunes.

Impact & Risks

The restoration of sand dunes along Alabama's Gulf Coast is critical for protecting infrastructure, wildlife habitats, and inland areas from storm surges and erosion. The use of recycled Christmas trees and native plants helps stabilize the dunes and provides shelter for endangered species like the Alabama beach mouse. However, the dunes remain vulnerable to damage from hurricanes and strong storms, which can strip away sand and vegetation. Continued community involvement and government support are essential to ensure the project's long-term success.

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