JONESVILLE, La. – The LSU AgCenter, National Audubon Society and Louisiana Delta Adventures will host an ecotourism workshop on Dec. 16 at the Honey Brake Lodge in Jonesville.

The daylong workshop will feature an overview of wildlife viewing opportunities in northeast Louisiana and strategies for managing land for wildlife. Attendees will also learn about promoting themselves as an ecotourism operator, legal issues and incentive programs.

A tour of the Honey Brake property, a premier ecotourism destination in the region, will take place in the afternoon.

“Most ecotourism activities that will be discussed are included under the agritourism limited liability law that was passed in 2008 under the leadership of state Rep. Andy Anders,” said Dora Ann Hatch, LSU AgCenter agritourism coordinator.

Workshop attendees will not only learn how to attract birds to their property but also how to attract bird watchers to the region, Hatch said.

More than 300 species of birds live in northeast Louisiana, accounting for about one-third of all species found in the U.S. and Canada, Hatch said. Bird watching and wildlife watching are ways that landowners can diversify their incomes and operations.

The workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Honey Brake Lodge, located at 1899 Larto Bridge Road in Jonesville. Lunch will be provided.

Those interested in attending should RSVP by Dec. 11 to Erik Johnson at ejohnson@audubon.org.

Olivia McClure