Forest Health Highlights 1997
Mississippi
The Mississippi Forestry Commission provides forest health protection assistance to state and private land managers within the State. This program is funded cooperatively by the State and the USDA Forest Service Forest Health Protection unit.
Mississippi Forest Facts
Over
60% of Mississippi is forested (more than 18.5 million acres).
Nearly
90% of forested acreage in Mississippi is privately owned.
The
National Forests in Mississippi (1.1 million acres) provide recreational
and wildlife benefits as well as forest products and jobs for thousands
of people.
The
southern pine beetle (SPB) is Mississippi's most important forest
insect pest. Since 1994, most of the state's pine forests have been adversely
affected by an SPB outbreak. In 1995, over 11,000 spots were detected
on state, private and federal forestlands in 26 epidemic counties affecting
over 2.5 million forested acres. Suppression activities carried out on
these lands materially contributed to the SPB population collapse in 1996.
In 1997 moderate levels of SPB activity continued with over 1,100 spots
detected. Six counties were considered to be in outbreak status. It is
projected that in 1998 populations will be at moderate levels, but more
severe on National Forests where suppression project continues.
Surveying
for the gypsy moth continues throughout the state. No infestations
were detected in 1996 or 1997.
There
have been an increasing number of reports of damage by Pales weevils
in pine regeneration areas.
The Mississippi Forestry Commission and USDA Forest Service
In spite of the relatively good health of Mississippi's forests, a variety of insects and diseases (both native and introduced), and human-caused impacts such as air pollution, continue to threaten the State's resources. To deal with this constantly changing mix of challenges, the Forestry Commission and the Forest Health Protection unit of the USDA Forest Service cooperate to prevent, detect, suppress and manage this multitude of threats. The partnership between the two agencies has worked for three decades to maintain and improve the health of Mississippi's forests.
Forest Health Protection contributions (dollars) to the Mississippi Forestry Commission Cooperative Forest Health program, cooperative pest suppression projects, and National Forests in Mississippi pest suppression projects, 1995-98.