Alumna creates new model for wetland restoration

Ryan Rivet rrivet@tulane.edu

Sarah Mack came to Tulane University because she knew it was a great place to work on water issues. When she began her graduate work at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, a faculty member recommended she work for the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans to get practical experience. While she earned a master"s degree and a PhD, Mack worked full-time at the S&WB, even during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. During her time there, Mack realized she needed to do something to jump-start private investment in the first line of defense for south Louisiana — the wetlands. Fast forward to 2015: Mack is president and CEO of Tierra Resources, a company that monetizes carbon offset credits through wetland restoration, which is expected to stimulate $5 billion in private investment over the next 50 years. In this video, Mack discusses her company and how her financing model could be a game-changer for coastal Louisiana.