Many of Wildlife Mississippi’s habitat conservation initiatives allow landowners
to enhance outdoor recreation opportunities. Conservation easements, offered through
our sister organizations, the
Mississippi Land Trust and the Mississippi River Trust, allow landowners to permanently
protect forests, wetlands and other habitats.
We help landowners secure financial
assistance and easements through federal
programs such as Wetlands Reserve Easements, Conservation Reserve Program
and Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program. Through our Working Wetlands Conservation
Program, we have helped landowners integrate waterfowl management practices, such
as flooding fields during non-cropping seasons, into farm operations.
Wildlife Mississippi has produced
landowner handbooks to aid in the restoration of longleaf pine forests and
native prairies. Other handbooks provide detailed explanations of conservation easements
and conservation provisions of the federal Farm Bill. A
series of articles on managing family land for recreation and other purposes
appeared in Wildlife Mississippi magazine. The articles provide detailed information
on habitat management, food plots, farm ponds and other topics. And our Wildlife
Habitat Seed Program provides low-cost seed twice each year for wildlife plantings
on private land.