Mississippi’s Fire on the Forty Initiative honored at NWTF convention

The National Wild Turkey Federation’s 50th Annual Convention and Sport Show was held last week in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks was honored with the Land Stewardship Award for its Fire on the Forty initiative, a private lands habitat program that encourages prescribed fire use across the state.

John Gruchy, MDWFP private lands program coordinator, said the award recognizes the partnership between landowners and conservation groups that makes the program possible. He added that prescribed fire offers long-term benefits for wildlife habitat and forest health in Mississippi.

Since its launch, Fire on the Forty has focused on educating landowners about the ecological advantages and proper use of prescribed fire. The program also provides cost-share support to help offset burning expenses.

Over the past 15 years, the initiative has helped restore more than 100,000 acres of fire-maintained habitat and has engaged more than 1,200 landowners through workshops and field days. The department thanked the NWTF and its partners for their role in advancing habitat restoration and sound land stewardship in Mississippi.

Source: Original Article