Mississippi

The Mississippi Forestry Commission provides forest health protection assistance to state and private land managers within the State.  The State and the USDA Forest Service Forest Health Protection unit fund this program cooperatively.

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.  In 1995 a major outbreak occurred, over 11,000 spots were detected on state, private and federal forestlands in 26 epidemic counties affecting over 2.5 million forested acres.  Cooperative  activities carried out on these lands materially contributed to the SPB population collapse in 1996.  Since that time SPB populations have remained moderate to low. In 1999 low levels of SPB activity continued with 261 spots detected. It is projected that in 2000 populations will be at moderate levels.

Surveying for the gypsy moth continues throughout the state.  No infestations were detected in 1999.

There have been an increasing number of reports of damage by Pales weevils and tip moth in pine regeneration areas.  Also fusiform rust has been of concern in regeneration areas.

A severe drought occurred in Mississippi in 1999.  This contributed to an increased number of pine engraver beetle infestations for the second year in a row.

The Mississippi Forestry Commission and Mississippi State University are working with forest industry to develop an integrated pest management practices for cottonwood plantations in the Delta section of the state.

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, 1997-2000.

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