Mississippi Gopher Frog

© John Tupy

Southern Coastal Plain Forests

More than 900 plant species grow only in the longleaf pine forests of the southern coastal plain making it one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems. Bears, woodpeckers, the federally endangered Mississippi gopher frog, migratory birds and many other animals depend on these forests. For generations, these forests have also supported jobs and industry. The Conservancy is working to protect and restore the last and largest remaining tracts of longleaf pine forests and assoc iated wetlands, through acquisitions, encouraging sustainable working forests and by allowing the natural processes of fire and flood to return to the landscape. By partnering with governments, corporations and landowners, the Conservancy is working to protect and restore forests throughout Mississippi.

Prescribed Fire

Our native longleaf pine forests and savannas, home to uncommon species like the Mississippi sandhill crane and gopher tortoise, once burned frequently from lightning-ignited fires. The Conservancy is using prescribed fire in several locations, including Old Fort Bayou Mitigation Bank, Grand Bay Savannah and the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge to return the natural and vital role of fire back to the state’s fire dependent ecosystems.

Camp Shelby Buffer Area

The Conservancy is working with the Mississippi Army National Guard to create a compatible use buffer around Camp Shelby. The purpose of the buffer is to prevent noise from the Army’s training missions from affecting neighborhoods, schools and businesses. The Conservancy is contacting landowners in the proposed buffer area around Camp Shelby, which includes portions of both the Pascagoula River watershed and DeSoto National Forest area. These areas have also been designated as important priority conservation sites by the Conservancy. Ideally, sufficient funding would allow these buffer areas to be managed purposely to maintain and increase acreage of longleaf pine forest, as less than 3 percent of this important and critically endangered habit remains today.

For more information on Prescribed Fire and the Camp Shelby Buffer Area, please contact Rebecca Stowe, Director of Stewardship.

The Nature Conservancy

Mississippi Stewardship Program
138 Main Street Merrill
Lucedale, MS  39452
(601) 947-3111