Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Report

Message from the State Forester

Mississippi’s forests make substantial and positive contributions to the quality of life for every Mississippian. Our forests provide nearly 70,000 jobs, offer abundant forest products, enhance water quality, create green spaces for our communities, nurture diverse wildlife habitats, offer recreational experiences, and drive economic prosperity. The forestry and forest products industry, with its astounding
$12.79 billion annual economic impact is a testament to the enduring value of our forests.

The MFC plays a crucial role in preserving Mississippi’s natural resources and ensuring the health and safety of our communities through forest management and protection efforts. In FY 2023, our dedicated forest team extinguished 1,070 fires and managed 485,000 acres of forested non-federal public land.

Our forest management programs and services assist private landowners and provide forest management assistance on School Trust forestland in Mississippi. This department works to support private forestland owners by providing on-the-ground services, technical assistance, cost-share assistance, and advice. The goal is to increase timber production and ensure the sustainable management of forest resources.

I want to thank our partners in the private and public sectors, including state and federal regulators, associations, and our state commissioners. Relationships are essential to what we do. So many of our accomplishments are directly attributable to these great partnerships that ensure that Mississippians get the most assistance and best service possible.

Workforce development is crucial to ensure that we recruit, train, and retain the best-trained personnel to safeguard the forest health and safety of the public. The MFC works closely with our schools and universities to allow us to foster skilled workers out in the field. Like many industries, some barriers exist to recruiting and retaining valuable entry-level personnel. We continue to work diligently toward these efforts as we move forward. The MFC Heavy Equipment Academy was also a great success again this year. This unique equipment training event has been
so successful that other states ask about sending their wildland firefighters to it. Other state forestry personnel were also asked to observe the event so they could create something similar in their states.

The MFC is proud of our assistance and connection to the public, protecting our state’s most valuable resources. Our agency appreciates the continued privilege of caring for Mississippi’s trees, forests, and the many other services the commission provides.

Please feel free to reach out to our office. We look forward to continuing our work to serve Mississippians.