MFC Launches RESTORE Program to Assist Landowners in Six Coastal Counties

In 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill released more than 134 million gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico, causing widespread environmental and economic damage along the Gulf Coast. The tragic oil spill resulted in human loss of life, as well as massive harm to marine life and the ecosystem. In response, Congress passed the RESTORE Act in 2012, directing 80% of Clean Water Act civil and administrative penalties from the spill into the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund to support long-term environmental restoration and economic recovery.

The Mississippi Forestry Commission (MFC) has received a $7.25 million RESTORE grant to strengthen forest resources critical to the health of the Gulf Coast. Using the USDA’s Forested Watershed Restoration framework, the MFC will improve water quality and ecosystem resilience by offering free services such as prescribed burning on private lands, sustainable forest management planning, and certification under the American Tree Farm System (ATFS).

Landowners in Jackson, Harrison, Hancock, George, Stone, and Pearl River counties—including private non-industrial landowners and state public landowners—are eligible to participate in the program.

“This program demonstrates our commitment to restoring forested watersheds and improving the quality of water flowing into the Gulf of America,” said Russell Bozeman, MFC State Forester. “By collaborating with local landowners and communities, we aim to create a sustainable model for forest management that benefits both the environment and the economy.”

The initiative will focus on restoring forests on public and private lands, providing both technical and financial assistance, and measuring the outcomes of restoration efforts. Eligible participants will receive 100% cost-share support for a variety of forest management activities, including tree planting and invasive species treatment.