As your new President, I intend to continue the outstanding work that has been accomplished by this organization to protect, restore and enhance Mississippi’s bountiful fish and wildlife resources.

The past presidents of Wildlife Mississippi have led this great organization in protecting, restoring and enhancing over 200,000 acres of fish and wildlife habitat in just over 8 years. As I serve and begin to think about the fast-approaching 10-year anniversary of our organization, I have a goal of increasing this number to 250,000 acres. While this is a lofty goal, we have the solid dedication of our donors, members, staff and others to make it a reality.

As I pondered what to say in my first President’s Message, I wanted you to know that as a landowner in northern Hancock County I was directly affected by Katrina. I watched as the unrelenting winds toppled pines and mangled hardwood creek bottoms which had been nurtured for 55 years. I know first hand the importance of the projects and policies of Wildlife Mississippi and how they relate to the restoration of South Mississippi and the Gulf Coast.

I am proud to say that we are definitely an on-the-ground organization, as evidenced by the wide range of projects which we undertake. The “common sense” ideas which we promote are often adopted by The White House, the U.S. Congress and the Mississippi Legislature, and become federal and state policy – law. A prime example is our involvement in the 2007 Farm Bill, which is designed to help landowners all over the state.

We are working to allow marginal pasture land and catfish ponds to be eligible lands for the Conservation Reserve Program if the practice is to restore the land to a native ecosystem. We are working to increase the amount of incentives available to help landowners control invasive species like kudzu and cogongrass. We are working to fix the appraisal method for the Wetlands Reserve Program so that a landowner receives a fair price for the easement purchased. We are working to create a Regional Water Enhancement Program. We have proposed an Emergency Forest Restoration Program to assist landowners whose forests are damaged by natural disasters such as hurricanes or wildfires. We are working to reauthorize the Grassland Reserve Program to aid in the restoration of Mississippi’s native prairies and also working to see the Healthy Forests Reserve Program fully funded. We are proposing a Debt For Conservation program to allow debt forgiveness in exchange for conservation practices on lands that back up a loan with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And the list of our priorities and efforts goes on.

During my tenure as president of Wildlife Mississippi I intend to address some issues which I believe will be of interest to landowners and wildlife enthusiasts. Among these are the issues of trespassing, poaching, illegal hunting and fishing and the destruction of our streambeds by the recreational riding of off-road vehicles. Wildlife Mississippi will continue to lend support to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks as well as local law enforcement agencies to curtail these activities.

As you can see, we have been, and will continue to be, very busy working for the future security of Mississippi’s fish and wildlife resources. I look forward to serving as president of such a great organization.

Judd Brooke
President