A Houma native is traveling by boat from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. back to his hometown to help call attention to the effect that coastal wetlands loss has on the nation’s economy and environment.

Val Marmillion, director and founder of the America’s Wetland organization, is traveling on his boat called “Storm Rider.”

Marmillion says he is touring many of the communities where big storms have hit. Coastal erosion has made many communities more vulnerable to hurricanes and tropical storms.