Reports - Mississippi Renewal

100 | AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY, AND MARINE RESOURCESAGRICULTURE,FORESTRY,AND MARINERESOURCESThe numbers associatedwith losses to agriculture,forestry, and marine resourcesfrom HurricaneKatrina illustrate the importanceof these industries to Mississippi.Recovery will cost billions. The effortwill take years. The natural bountyof the state and the enterprise of itscitizens, however, can return these economicdrivers to prominence with specificaid and actions as recommendedbelow.ForestryBetween 50,000 and 60,000 privatelandowners have forest damaged by thehurricane. Additionally, the state sustainedsubstantial losses to 16th Sectionforest lands, which generate revenue forlocal school districts, and losses werealso suffered in lands used as wildlifemanagement areas by the MississippiDepartment of Wildlife, Fisheries, andParks.The Commission is concerned thatthe tens of thousands of private, individual,and family forest landowners whowere severely affected will not continuegrowing timber because of the limitedability to recover or insure their investments.The programs described beloware necessary to restore the rural economy,a diversity of forest resources, andthe quality of life of South Mississippi.Further, regeneration of destroyed forestlands is imperative to the long-termviability of forest-related species of fishand wildlife, including threatened andendangered species, and the timbereconomy of Mississippi.Emergency Forest RestorationAssistance ProgramCongress recently approved $404.1