Forest Land Enhancement Program
Helping Manage Nonindustrial Private Forests in Mississippi

Mississippi’s nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowners have a new tool to assist them in the long-term management of their natural resources, the Forest Land Enhancement Program (FLEP). The program was authorized by the 2002 Farm Bill and replaces the old Stewardship Incentives Program (SIP) and Forestry Incentives Program (FIP) which were both repealed in the 2002 Farm Bill.

The USDA Forest Service will provide national administration of the program with state program administration being carried out by the respected state forestry agencies. State forestry agencies will be able to utilize FLEP to provide a wide array of services to NIPF landowners. These services will include educational outreach as well as technical and financial assistance. The program is voluntary and is available to any NIPF landowner including any private individual, group, association, corporation, Indian tribe, or other native group or legal private entity. Not available for participation in the program are corporations whose stock is publicly traded, public utilities and private corporations that manufacture wood products.

In Mississippi, the Mississippi Forestry Commission (MFC) is charged with administering the program. The State Forester, with concurrence of the Mississippi Forest Stewardship Committee, has developed the State Priority Plan for Mississippi which outlines how the program will be administered in the state. A copy of the plan can be downloaded from the MFC website at www.mfc.state.ms.us.

Implementation of FLEP in the state will fall under four priority program areas as outlined in the national FLEP Plan. These program areas include educational programs, resource management expertise and technical assistance, program administration and financial assistance to landowners.

Approximately 10 percent of the funds available under FLEP for Mississippi will be used to develop an educational/outreach plan for the state. The goal of the plan is to reach those NIPF owners who are not active in the management of their property and empower them, as well as those who are active, with the knowledge to make sound management decisions regarding the management of the natural resources found on their property.

Another 10 percent of the FLEP funds for Mississippi will be used to enhance resource management and technical assistance to NIPF landowners in the state. The MFC, in cooperation with the State Forest Stewardship Committee, will develop and implement programs that will help facilitate participation in technology transfer programs that are aimed at increasing multiple resource management information to NIPF landowners. Other portions of the funding in this category will cover increasing technical assistance to landowners by the MFC.

Program administration by the MFC will involve another 10 percent of the funds available to Mississippi. This will cover program administration and oversight of the FLEP in the state including processing applications, issuing payments, and maintaining records and other documentation. The remainder of funding 70 percent will be utilized to provide financial assistance to NIPF landowners.

Administration of FLEP in Mississippi will be done in conjunction with the Forest Resource Development Program (FRDP). The two programs will compliment each other with the main focus of FLEP being multiple resource management and FRDP being timber production. Priority for funding under FLEP will be for those multiple resource activities that are not covered by FRDP. Those practices that are eligible for financial assistance in Mississippi under FLEP are broken down into the following categories:
FLEP 1: Forest Stewardship Plans
FLEP 2: Afforestation/Reforestation
FLEP 3: Forest Stand Improvement
FLEP 5: Water Quality Improvement and Watershed Protection
FLEP 6: Fish and Wildlife Habitat
FLEP 8: Invasive Species Control
FLEP 11: Special Practices

To participate in the FLEP, the project area must be at least 10 acres in size. Practices may be cost-shared on less than 10 acres if the practice acres are part of a larger forest management unit of land of 10 acres or more. Cost-sharing under FLEP can not exceed 50 percent of the established maximums for each practice. Maximum funding that an individual NIPF landowner may receive under FLEP is limited to $3,000 per year. If a landowner is participating in both the FRDP as well as the FLEP, their total cost-share is limited to $7,000 per year.

Landowners must agree to maintain established practices for a minimum of 10 years unless a shorter duration is specified in the management plan.

The Forest Land Enhancement Program has the potential of being one of the most beneficial programs available to Mississippi’s private landowners in the long-term management of the natural resources. The Mississippi Forestry Commission and the Mississippi Forest Stewardship Committee have work hard to insure the program’s success and are dedicated to working with Mississippi’s NIPF landowners to implement this program. If you are interested in participating in this program, please contact your local county forester for more information.