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Gov. Reeves signs deal to strengthen state forests
Explore the importance of forests in Mississippi’s economy as agencies strengthen partnerships for sustainable management.
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VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Governor Tate Reeves signed an updated Shared Stewardship Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), bringing together the State of Mississippi with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The Mississippi Forestry Commission (MFC) served as the lead state agency in developing the agreement.
The MOU establishes a framework for state and federal agencies to coordinate the management, align resources, and support locally driven priorities across Mississippi. By working across ownership boundaries, the partnership will help improve forest resilience, strengthen rural economies, and ensure the long-term sustainability of Mississippi’s forest resources.
“Mississippi’s forestry industry is one of the pillars of our state’s economy, and protecting it requires strong partnerships,” said Governor Tate Reeves. “This agreement allows state and federal agencies to work more efficiently across ownership boundaries to improve forest health, reduce wildfire risk, support private landowners, and strengthen Mississippi’s timber economy.”
Under the MOU, the USDA Forest Service will work with Mississippi to expand active forest management through prescribed fire, invasive species control, wildlife habitat improvement, forest product market development, Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) projects, wildfire risk reduction, and coordinated planning for natural disasters, research, and cultural resource protection.
The forestry industry is a major economic driver in Mississippi, supporting over 84,024 jobs and contributing significantly to the state’s economy. By aligning federal investments with state priorities—and leveraging the Mississippi Forestry Commission’s State Forest Action Plan—the agreement seeks to address market barriers, safeguard timber supplies from wildfire and pest threats such as the southern pine beetle, and use updated legislative authorities to accelerate landscape recovery.
“This agreement strengthens forest management across ownership boundaries and benefits everyone involved,” said Mississippi State Forester Russell Bozeman. “By improving the health and resilience of national forest lands, the Mississippi Forestry Commission can better work to reduce wildfire risk, mitigate forest health threats such as the southern pine beetle, and support more productive forests for neighboring private landowners and surrounding communities.”
Mississippi joins a growing number of states—including Montana, Idaho, South Dakota, and Georgia—that have adopted Shared Stewardship agreements to strengthen partnerships, improve forest management, and increase the resilience of forests and the communities that depend on them.
For more information about Shared Stewardship, visit the USDA Forest Service webpage at https://www.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/shared-stewardship.
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