The NDA is creating healthy ecosystems across the state of Mississippi by establishing, enhancing, and maintaining longleaf pine in three National Forests. As part of our nearly 6,000-acre habitat improvement goal on USDA Forest Service (USFS) land in the Magnolia State, and with help from a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant, the NDA has already treated 1,538 acres in the Bienville National Forest (NF), 962 acres in the Homochitto NF, and 655 acres in De Soto NF.
These efforts will not only restore longleaf pine and rare pitcher plant bog communities but also provide diversity in several stages of wildlife habitat, decrease susceptibility to southern pine beetle and other pests, and improve gopher tortoise habitat and red-cockaded woodpecker foraging acres. Importantly, these areas of active management also produce valuable food and cover for resident deer herds.
“We are thrilled about our stewardship work in Mississippi,” said Matt Ross, NDA’s Senior Director of Conservation. “It’s the place where we have been working the longest and have some of the deepest relationships, and it absolutely shows. In four short years, we’ve accomplished more under our Public Lands Initiative than any other location. It has become the standard that we measure all other projects.”
So far in the De Soto NF 563 acres of commercial timber sales have been implemented, with an additional 931 acres to be sold by the end of the year. The revenues generated from these sales and others directly fund many of the stewardship activities occurring on the same three NFs.
For example, 2.5 miles of road have been improved in the De Soto Ranger District of the De Soto NF, and crews have treated 37 acres of invasive cogon grass with another 800 acres currently being treated in the Chickasawhay Ranger District. Cogon grass is an invasive non-native species that is known to reduce pine survival and productivity. Flammable oils in the grass may even increase the severity of prescribed burns resulting in damage to overstory trees.
Prescribed fire is an essential component of longleaf pine ecosystem management and cogon grass poses a substantial threat to the effectiveness of this practice. NDA is currently executing nearly 350 acres of “hack-and-squirt” style timber stand improvements on De Soto NF as well.
Furthermore, NDA continues to prove its ability to provide additional capacity and exceed targets to the USFS by leveraging private industry efficiencies. On the Homochitto NF, competitive pricing and internal streamlined operations allowed NDA to complete 962 acres of pre-commercial thinning, greatly surpassing the initial goal of 154 acres.
“NDA prides itself on a few things respective of our PLI. For one, we show up, we get the work done ahead of schedule, and we try our best to deliver a finished product above expectations. However, we have really refined our ability to perform under budget,” said Ross. “To date, we’ve realized over $750,000 in cost-savings in Mississippi alone! That has allowed NDA to get much more work accomplished on the ground.”
To help fuel our work in Mississippi, NDA has partnered with several organizations besides the USFS, including the Mississippi Forestry Association (MFA), Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, and Mississippi Power, among others. De Soto NF has also been host to several successful Working for Wildlife events, in which volunteers and agency staff planted food plots and trees on public hunting land.
The next annual public land workday will take place there on September 27, 2025 and volunteers can sign up now to help improve additional acreage.
From the pine forests of the Gulf Coastal Plain to the upland hardwoods in the northern part of the state, the National Forests of Mississippi cover 1.2 million acres of diverse natural resources and valued public lands. This project is a major success story for not only historical longleaf pine ecosystems, but also for species at-risk and the important ecosystem they call home.
NDA’s work alongside the USFS greatly improves wildlife habitat on our public lands in the great state of Mississippi and provides access to the thousands of deer hunters and outdoor enthusiasts that explore our NF’s there.
Thanks especially to the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the MFA for financial support of NDA’s PLI and this project, which aims to address access, hunting and forest health issues across North America.