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Forest Legacy
In
Mississippi |
The Forest Legacy Program was authorized by the 1990 Food, Agriculture,
Conservation and Trade Act to identify and protect environmentally
important, private forestlands threatened with conversion to non-forest
uses. The Forest Legacy
Program is a USDA Forest Service program in partnership with Mississippi
that will help support local efforts to protect environmentally sensitive,
privately owned forest lands threatened by conversion to non-forest use
through land acquisition and conservation easements.
The total area of private forestland in the U.S. has gradually declined
since the mid-20th century. Increasing population and urban centers are adding demands on our
forests. Projections indicate that 11 percent of private forests are
likely to see dramatic increases in housing density in the next three
decades. Development results in the loss of forests, smaller areas of intact
forest, smaller parcel sizes and isolation of forest fragments. These
changes alter the ability of private forests to provide many ecological,
economic and social benefits.
Mississippi is no exception to this national trend. Our
state is rich in forest resources with 19.8 million acres of forestland
covering 65 percent of the state. Almost eighty percent is owned by private,
non-industry landowners.
These forests supply timber products, provide wildlife habitat and
watershed protection and have recreation and aesthetic values. However,
increasing fragmentation and parcelization of forests across our state has
resulted in the loss of these valuable ecosystems.
The Assessment Of Need (AON) identifies areas of the Mississippi such as
the Pineywoods region of south Mississippi, the Jackson area and northeast
Mississippi where important natural forest communities exist on private
lands that are potentially threatened by conversion from urban and
suburban growth or other threats. The AON recommends these areas of the
state be designated as Forest Legacy Areas so that willing landowners may
nominate their property as a possible Forest Legacy Tract.
Forest Legacy
Press Release, Information and Application:
Forest Legacy PowerPoint Presentation
(pdf file format)
Forest Legacy Press Release 2009 (coming soon)
Forest Legacy Application (coming soon)
2009 Forest Legacy Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet
(posted 8/09/2009)
The deadline for submitting completed applications for consideration for
federal fiscal year 2011 is 5:00 p.m. on
September 30, 2009. Application must be mailed to:
Mississippi
Forestry Commission
Attn: Bruce
Frasier
Forest
Legacy Coordinator
301 North
Lamar Street, Suite 300
Jackson,
Mississippi 39201
For
more information on the Forest Legacy program, contact:
Bruce Frasier
District Forester, East Central
14941Hwy 16 West
P.O. Box 429
Philadelphia, MS 39350
(601) 656-1381 office
(601) 656-9247 fax
bfrasier@mfc.state.ms.us
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