Conservation Corner: April 12, 1999

Cochran Gives Life To Tree Planting Program
by James L. Cummins

Senator Thad Cochran has, again, restored life to the Forestry Incentives Program (FIP), which, no pun intended, was about to get the ax. FIP, which was authorized in 1973, provides funding, in the form of cost-share assistance, to non-industrial forest landowners to enhance wildlife habitat and help meet the rising demand for wood and wood fiber.

Since 1973, FIP has planted over 450,000 acres of trees in Mississippi. Nationwide, FIP has been successful in helping improve the productivity of our nation's privately owned forest land by planting 3.2 million acres of trees, accomplishing 1.3 million acres of other forest land improvement practices and assisting over 130,000 landowners.

Populations of terrestrial wildlife in Mississippi have exploded since the mid-70's when intensive forest management began on private lands. This simple act of planting trees and timber stand improvement has immediately improved biodiversity and habitat for many threatened and endangered species.

Besides the numerous benefits to society that have accrued because of this program, FIP is extremely cost-efficient. It has resulted in a very low cost per acre ($41.47 per acre) for planting and is one of only a few federal assistance programs that has a benefit/cost ratio greater than one-to-one.

Trees are a renewable resource that will never be depleted as long as responsible forest management is practiced. FIP continues to provide jobs, income, forest products, energy, clean air and water, wildlife habitat, water quality protection and recreational opportunities. In addition, large scale reforestation that this program has provided has been recognized as playing a vital role in reducing the build-up of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

The Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation recognizes the vital economic and environmental importance of FIP and is pleased that Senator Cochran was instrumental in obtaining a special $10 million for the Disaster Relief-FIP, which will cost-share at a rate of 50 percent for replanting trees that did not survive due to drought or natural disasters previously planted under FIP. Senator Cochran has also worked to maintain the integrity of FIP so that paperwork requirements of the program are minimized.

Of the $10 million, Mississippi received $720,000. To be eligible, a landowner must own no more than 1,000 acres of eligible land and have land suitable for producing marketable timber. The minimum accepted acreage for FIP is 10 acres. The annual cost-share payment limitation is $5,000 per person.

To learn more about FIP, contact your local office of the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

James L. Cummins is Executive Director of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Stoneville, Mississippi. Known as "Wildlife Mississippi," the Foundation is a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi.