Skip to main content

Fiscal Year 2013 Annual Report

Download the PDF

Message from the State Forester

The Mississippi Forestry Commission has been a leader in the protection, management and sustainability of our state’s forests for over 85 years. Year after year we provide expertise, information and support to keep Mississippi’s 19.8 million acres of forestland healthy, productive and profitable.”

We are proud of our service to the public and our protection of the state’s valuable forest resource. Committed to delivering quality services and assistance to both rural and urban landowners, the Forestry Commission looks forward to the continued privilege of caring for Mississippi’s trees, forests and natural resources.

We appreciate our partners who provide support, collaboration and implementation of many of our programs and services. We work hard to maintain and develop our relationships with natural resource agencies, organizations and individuals. These relationships ensure the citizens of Mississippi receive the best assistance and service possible.

I would also like to thank our state leaders, commission, staff, partners and citizens for their continued support and assistance in making 2013 a success.

Please contact our office at any time. We look forward to serving you.

Forest Management

The Forest Management Department provides private forest landowners with limited on-the-ground services, technical assistance, cost-share assistance, advice to increase timber production and provide for the sustainable management of forest resources.

FY13 Statewide Accomplishments

Private Land Activities
Landowners Assisted 11,428
Total Forest Management Plans 2,913
Acres under Management Plans 194,947
Prescribed Burning (Acres) 12,883

 

Public Land Activities
Timber Sale Receipts $19,112,612*
Number of Sales 215
Acres Regenerated 10,844
Boundary Line Maintenance (Miles) 476
Firebreak Maintenance (Miles) 784
Prescribed Burning (Acres) 17,256

 

Prescribed Burning – Private & Public Land
Total (Acres) 30,139

 

Forest Resource Development Program
Acres Regenerated or Improved 31,315

 

Invasive Plant Control Program for Cogongrass Suppression
Cogongrass Applications from Landowners 301
Landowners Inspected 301
Total Infested Spots Treated 3,068
Total Infested Acres Treated 575

*Source: MFC’s Public Lands Timber Sale report and FY13 Crew Assistance report. Receipts are from sales made on School Trust Lands and other public lands. Timber sale receipts consist of lump sum sale revenue, carry-over revenue from FY12, and actual thin sale revenue; does not include remaining pay-as-cut revenue which will be reported next year as carry over from FY12. Note: 19 public land timber sales were rejected in FY13 due to low bids or no bids, which reflects poor market conditions, especially in the sawtimber market.

Quick Facts

  • The forest industry in Mississippi is a $10.38B industry and represents over 63,000 jobs.
  • On average, more than $2 million is distributed each year to private forest landowners in Mississippi through the Forest Resource Development Program, which provides cost sharing for tree planting and forest improvements.
  • In FY13, the revenue from timber sales on non-federal public lands, including School Trust Lands, totaled $19.1 million.

Forest Protection

The MFC suppresses, monitors, and detects wildfire activity occurring day and night on approximately 19.8 million forested acres statewide.

FY13 Wildfires by Cause

Cause # Wildfires # Acres Burned
Lightning 25 478
Campfire 7 16
Smoking 7 39
Debris Burning 584 5,678
Incendiary 680 9,125
Equipment Use 27 222
Railroad 4 102
Children 7 79
Miscellaneous 133 1,828
Re-ignition 0 0
Total 1,474 17,567

Quick Facts

  • IMFC suppressed 1,474 wildfires, which burned 17,567 acres.
  • The average wildfire size was 11.9 acres
  • 20 homes were destroyed, 4 homes were damaged and 1,384 homes were threatened by wildfire.
  • Mississippi Forestry Commission awarded 57 grants totaling $201,957 to volunteer fire departments.

Forest Information

The Forest Information Department provides support to all MFC programs through the development of displays, exhibits, brochures and other informational material. The department is the point of contact for media relations and is responsible for maintaining the MFC Web site, maintaining our presence on social media, and producing the agency’s newsletter, annual report, and MFC News.

MFC Outreach Program
Adult and Youth Programs 730
Participants 61,585*

*Data does not include participants from the MS State Fair, MS Wildlife Extravaganza, or the MS Garden and Patio Show.

Quick Facts

  • MFC’s Urban/Community Forestry Program provided 6 financial assistance grants totaling $95,043.00 to state and local governments, non profit groups and educational institutions.
  • There are currently 41 Mississippi cities and towns certified as Tree City USA.