February 28, 2007
Contact information:
Eleana Pope, MFA Program and Event Coordinator
Phone 601-354-4936
Email epope@msforestry.net
Wrap It In Green!
Mississippi Forestry Association Meets with Legislators
Mississippi Forestry Association (MFA) hosted their annual MFA/CFA Legislative Luncheon at the Old Capitol Inn in Jackson on Wednesday, February 28th. The MFA Government
Affairs Committee and representatives from county forestry associations from all over the state attended to discuss current forestry issues with their state
legislators. In all there were 200 guests in attendance including 85 legislators. This year's theme was Wrap It In Green! Click here for photos of the event.
The Wrap It In Green! theme was selected to encourage and promote sustainable management of forests to enhance Mississippi's natural resources, scientific research, and continued development of new economic opportunities with forest products that will benefit all citizens.
David Moody of Philadelphia, Chairman of the MFA County Forestry Association Committee, welcomed the state representatives, senators, and county forestry association officers. MFA President and 2003 Tree Farmer of the Year, Art Waymire of Byahlia, introduced the program. Dr. George Hopper, Dean of the College of Forest Resources at Mississippi State University(MSU), gave the legislators a Forestry 101 pop quiz to test their knowledge of forestry in Mississippi. (See quiz below.)
Legislative issues discussed included the state's reforestation tax credit, budgetary concerns for the Mississippi Forestry Commission (MFC) and the budget for MSU's Forestland Wildlife Research Center. MFC is the primary forest fire protection agency for Mississippi, and recently suffered an approximate four-million dollar budget cut.
The Legislative Luncheon was organized by MFA's County Forestry Association Committee, which represents the 64 county associations that are working in every forested county in Mississippi - 73 counties in all. There are more than 6,000 members of these local county forestry associations in Mississippi.
Mississippi leads the nation in successful county forestry association programs. Forestry affects the citizens of all 82 Mississippi counties and members of MFA are proud to be stewards of Mississippi's 13 billion dollar industry.
Mississippi Forestry Association is a private, nonprofit, statewide membership organization representing Mississippi's entire forestry community. MFA's mission is to lead diverse groups to promote landowner rights, environmental stewardship, member prosperity, and community understanding. MFA is not a government agency and receives no government funding. For more information about MFA and county forestry associations, go to www.msforestry.net.
Forestry 101
February 28, 2007
Professor: Dr. George Hopper
Correct answers in red
1. There is less forestland in Mississippi now than 20 years ago. FALSE
2. Wood by- products like bark, shavings, and chips are thrown away by lumber mills. FALSE
3. What role does the Mississippi Institute for Forest Inventory (MIFI) play?
a. Economic Development
b. Data Collecting
c. Data Reporting
d. All of the above
4. Mississippi has more registered Tree Farms than any other state. TRUE
5. More trees are planted in Mississippi every year than are cut . TRUE
6. Forests are a renewable resource that, if managed correctly, will continue to produce clean air, clean water, outdoor recreation, wood products, and wildlife habitat. TRUE
7. Mississippi has __________ acres of forestland. 19 million
8. The Mississippi Forestry Commission provides fire protection on __________ acres of forestland. 19 million acres
9. The annual economic impact forestry has in Mississippi is
a. 14 million dollars
b. 50 million dollars
c. 2 billion dollars
d. 13 billion dollars
10. Who owns most of the forestland in Mississippi?
a. USDA Forest Service and the State
b. Private, non-industrial landowners
c. Forestry companies
d. 16th Section lands
Approximately 175,000 private landowners own, manage and nurture 70% of our state's forestland.
11. The Mississippi State University Forest and Wildlife Research Center within the MSU College of Forest Resources is funded each year by the state legislature. The name of this state agency is:
a. Forest and Wildlife Research Center
b. Forest and Wildlife Research Center
c. Forest and Wildlife Research Center
d. All of the above
Bonus:
How many times has a Mississippian won the National Tree Farmer of the year title? Twice
Dr. Terry Ozier, Rankin County
Chester Thigpen, Jasper County