Spring 2003

President's Message

As your new President of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation, I hope to continue the outstanding work that has been done by this organization to protect, restore and enhance Mississippi's bountiful fish and wildlife resources.

I would like to take this opportunity to point out that this year marks the centennial anniversary of the National Wildlife Refuge System. On March 14, 1903 President Theodore Roosevelt issued an Executive Order designating a small island off the east coast of Florida as our Nation's first National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge's purpose was to protect shore birds and pelicans from market hunters. March 14, 1903 is probably the most significant date in the United States' history of wildlife conservation.

Today the National Wildlife Refuge represents the world's largest tracts of land set aside to protect wildlife. To date, the National Wildlife Refuge System has 540 refuges; which represents approximately 95 million acres. Mississippi has twelve refuges, representing approximately 98,000 acres.

We, as a Nation, should be extremely proud of the Refuge System. Americans know the importance of conservation. We are protecting for ourselves, and more importantly, future generations, and native fish and wildlife and the respective ecosystems they support. Please read the two features in this magazine about the Refuge System.

We have numerous opportunities to protect, restore and enhance fish and wildlife and their habitat. There are numerous programs available to landowners to facilitate fish and wildlife conservation. Some of them were even conceptualized and written by this organization.

The role of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation in supporting and facilitating enrollment into these programs is even more staggering. Just take a few minutes and review the Progress Report in this magazine and learn how your organization is working.
Mississippians know how important it is to protect, restore and enhance our great state's fish, wildlife, forests and waters. We are privileged to live in a state with these tremendous natural resources. It is our responsibility to protect and restore as much of this great state as possible. It directly contribute the superb quality of life that makes Mississippi special.

I look forward to my tenure as President of this great organization.

Jeff Clark, M.D.
President