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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

This year the USDA Forest Service will celebrate its 100th Anniversary. One hundred years ago, the Forest Service was created as an agency with a unique mission: to sustain healthy, productive and diverse public forests and grasslands which included the introduction of a new conservation ethic and professional workforce to carry it forth. But even before that, in 1897 Congress passed the Appropriations Act which stated that forest reserves are to be managed for timber and water resources.

In 1905, under the leadership of President Theodore Roosevelt, Congress reserved to itself and the President the right to create federal wildlife reserves and empowered the Secretary of Agriculture to prevent hunting, trapping, killing or capturing game animals “except under such regulations as may be prescribed from time to time.” And in 1906 and 1907, the Agricultural Appropriations Act stated that the Forest Service shall aid in enforcement to protect fish and game.

Mississippi has a proud history with the Service. In 1933, the Homochitto National Forest, Mississippi's first national forest, was created. In 1936 the Southern Hardwoods Laboratory at Stoneville was created. Ten years later, the Forest Service established the Oxford Research Center of the Southern Forest Experiment Station to conduct research in North Mississippi and East Tennessee.

Since that time, new national forests have been created in the state and the public is demanding more from them. These demands create new challenges as well. For example, there are rapid natural and social changes, changing public desires and new technologies.

Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth has also identified some major threats to our Nation's Forests. They are fire, invasive species, loss of open space and unmanaged recreation. In Mississippi, primarily South Mississippi, invasive species is the greatest threat.

The Forest Service has a proud history and traditions of exploring ways to move into a new century of “caring for the land and serving people.”

The Forest Service is also blessed with strong leadership. In addition to Chief Bosworth, I would especially like to recognize Under Secretary Mark Rey. While watching C-SPAN a few weeks ago, even Senator Thad Cochran praised Rey and the quality job he is doing. We echo those comments.

The Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation is proud of the Forest Service and the job it is doing. We congratulate them on their anniversary and stand with them as a strong partner. Wildlife Mississippi played a major role in the Healthy Forests Initiative and the Healthy Forests Restoration Act and look forward to working with them to address new issues as they come forth.

Jeff Clark, MD