Summer/Fall 2001

President's Message

Over the past several months, a number of people have asked me, "What is the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation?" I've been thinking about the future - the future of my family, friends and people I work with, and the future of young people I don't even know. It's pretty clear to me that no one knows what our future will be or what we'll be doing 50 years from now.

It's also clear to me that we do know some things we won't be doing fifty years from now unless we get busy right now. We won't be enjoying Mississippi's beautiful lakes, streams and forests unless we conserve them today. That means fewer less bass, ducks, deer, turkey and backyard wildlife unless we conserve their habitat today. To help preserve these treasures that are so abundant in our state today, I've committed significant financial resources, as well as time, to this worthy cause through the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Wildlife Mississippi. It's a no frills, down to earth, low overhead organization that spends all its money on conservation right here in Mississippi. Wildlife Mississippi has put up bird boxes, restored lakes, planted almost 1 million hardwoods and restored wetlands in Mississippi. I'm proud of what Wildlife Mississippi is doing. Let me further explain our role.

While we applaud the work of The Nature Conservancy, Delta Wildlife, Ducks Unlimited, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Audubon Society, Quail Unlimited and the Mississippi Native Plant Society, we have a unique and critical role in conservation.

We have chartered a conservation philosophy in which the many and sometimes conflicting forces affecting natural resources have been brought together. Rather than focus on legal battles or acquiring more land for government agencies to own, the Foundation has focused on an effective philosophy based on three basic principles: 1) conservation incentives make a difference, 2) conservation should include private lands and 3) conservation is an important component of quality of life.

Mississippi has unlimited potential for habitat restoration and enhancement. This potential is not just a personal goal, but it is a possible solution to the economic slump Mississippi is experiencing. We work to balance environmental protection and economic growth. If you will take a moment to review pages 16 and 17 detailing Wildlife Mississippi's efforts, you will see for yourself how important these activities are. Additional information is available on our web site at www.wildlifemiss.org.

Wildlife Mississippi is more than just another environmental organization. No other organization uses all of its resources in Mississippi on fish, wildlife and plant conservation initiatives in cooperation with hunters, anglers, bird watchers, business people, farmers and landowners. When this diverse group sees that economic resources are enhanced by quality fish, wildlife and plant resources, it follows that we can have it all: a strong economy, a good environment and a better future for everyone.

Leila Clark Wynn
President