Description
One of the largest National Guard installations in the United States is located just outside Hattiesburg, Mississippi, with land owned by the Mississippi Military Department, Departments of the Army and Defense, and the U.S. Forest Service.
Home to some of the state's rarest plants and animals, a cooperative agreement between The Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Army allows scientists to study these species and their habitats, and to remove non-native species such as cogongrass. Specifically, TNC staff perform field surveys for rare species and communities, evaluate habitat quality, and implement research and monitoring projects to improve management strategies for rare, threatened and endangered species. Staff also researches how prescribed fire affects habitats, gopher tortoise behavior, how military activities affect gopher tortoises, and much more.
