51³Ō¹Ļ

Contact: Vanessa Beeson

STARKVILLE, Miss.ā€”The Forest and Wildlife Research Center, or FWRC, at Mississippi State has acquired 14,071 acres of coastal forestland to establish the Wolf River Coastal Forest Research and Education Center, protecting a vital coastal area in perpetuity. Ā 

Made possible through a partnership with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Mississippi Forestry Commission, Weyerhaeuser, U.S. Forest Service and The Nature Conservancy, the FWRC will manage the bottomland hardwood and upland forestsā€”part of the Coastal Headwaters Protection Initiative in Harrison and Hancock Counties along the Wolf River, which distributes into the Bay of St. Louis.

Wes Burger, dean of 51³Ō¹Ļā€™s College of Forest Resources and FWRC director, emphasized the universityā€™s commitment to continuing the stewardship legacy of Weyerhaeuser, the landā€™s previous owner. The property will provide an outdoor learning lab for teaching, research and outreach programs while ensuring this ecologically vulnerable land remains a permanent part of Mississippiā€™s coastal conservation estate.

ā€œThis property protects over 10 miles of the Wolf Riverā€™s main stem and 100 miles of tributaries, preserving water quality, aquatic habitats and the Bay of St. Louisā€™s marine life and fisheries,ā€ Burger said.

The FWRC will manage 7,000 acres of hardwood riparian forests and 7,000 acres of upland pine forests under a comprehensive multi-resource management plan. This includes protecting bottomland hardwood riparian areas, managing upland working forestlands and regenerating native longleaf pine ecosystems where appropriate.

Burger said the forestland also will be an important outdoor learning laboratory for College of Forest Resources students and a research platform for science that informs coastal forest conservation and management.

ā€œThis acquisition adds a coastal complement to our more than 30,000 acres of Bulldog Forests statewide, including 8,400 acres in the John W. Starr Memorial Forest near Starkville, an outdoor classroom in a loblolly pine system,ā€ he said.

Russell Bozeman, state forester and Mississippi Forestry Commission director, said the agency shares the universityā€™s vision for protecting and restoring the natural forest communities along the Wolf River.

ā€œAs natural buffers, these forested wetlands and adjacent uplands filter pollutants, reduce erosion and bolster coastal resilience, benefiting forests and communities for future generations,ā€ he said. ā€œWe are confident that, under Mississippi Stateā€™s proven leadership, this initiative will not only restore critical forest communities and wildlife species but also provide invaluable natural resource education and hands-on training opportunities for students and landowners alike.ā€

Chris Wells, executive director of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, said the project represents a significant effort in coastal conservation and reflects the stateā€™s restoration values and priorities.

ā€œBy focusing on protecting, conserving and restoring the headwaters of the Wolf River, we aim to improve water quality and address injuries to the Gulf Coast stemming from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. This project serves as a model of how strategic partnerships can bolster our restoration efforts and safeguard the Mississippi Gulf Coastā€™s unique and invaluable ecosystems,ā€ Wells said.

In the coming months, Mississippi State will hold public meetings on the Gulf Coast to secure public input and engagement from the local community and various stakeholders.

Weyerhaeuserā€™s Christie Bennett, senior director of land asset management in the Gulf South, said continued conservation of the area was an important consideration for the company.

ā€œConservation is a core part of how we manage the forests and landscapes in our care. Weā€™re proud of our stewardship of the Wolf River ecosystem, and itā€™s exciting to know that this exceptional area will contribute to valuable research and educational opportunities for years to come through our longtime partners at Mississippi State,ā€ Bennett said.

This project is funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundationā€™s Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund and the U.S. Forest Service Federal Forest Legacy grant program.

For more on the Forest and Wildlife Research Center at Mississippi State, visit .

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