County Forestry: Title III Program

Over the last several years, there has been a $28 million/year reduction in timber sales from the six National Forests of Mississippi. Fewer timber sales have hurt the 32 counties that host these National Forests. Traditionally, these counties received 25% of timber sales revenue, which was used to fund schools and roads. A loss of $7 million/year to our county budgets would have been devastating. To assist these financially strapped counties, Congress passed The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-393).

Public Law 106-393 uses taxpayer funds to provide secure payments to counties for six years, or the counties may continue to receive the traditional 25% payment. Most County Board of Supervisors chose to take this secure payment that was equal to the average of the three highest payments between 1986 and 1999. In 2001, counties received secure payments totaling $ 7.4 million, which was about ten times greater than payments anticipated from timber sales in National Forests.

Under Public Law 106-393, counties that receive a secure payment of over $100,000 are required to use 80 - 85% for traditional uses such as public education and transportation. They are also required to reserve 15 - 20% for other projects under Title II and/or Title III. The funds for other projects will be returned to the U.S. Treasury if the counties do not use them for Title II/Title III programming.

Title II projects are termed special projects on Federal lands. If Title II is selected, the funds are deposited into a special U.S. Treasury Account and the counties lose direct control over how the money is spent. First, Title II projects are confined to Federal land and non-Federal land where projects would benefit these resources on Federal land. In addition, Title II projects require the formation of a 15-member resource advisory committee to recommend projects to the Secretary of Agriculture. Finally, the Secretary of Agriculture has to approve these projects before they are started.

Requirements for Title III funding are much less stringent than Title II requirements. Title III simply requires counties to publish the proposed projects in a local record for a 45-day public comment period. Due to the complex nature of Title II, almost all of the funds received by county Boards of Supervisors were designated as Title III funds.

There are six authorized uses of Title III funds, which include forest related educational opportunities. Mississippi State University Extension Forestry Department made itself available to handle Title III educational programs through agreements with individual counties. Utilizing an extensive statewide network of resource professionals, MSU Extension Forestry delivers outstanding forestry/natural resource programs to landowners, land managers, youth, and teachers.

Each participating county chooses projects tailored to the needs of their community. Students and teachers benefit from programs such as Wood Magic Science Fair, 4-H Youth Programs, and Teacher Conservation Workshop. Landowners and land managers profit from short courses, workshops, field days, and demonstration areas, to name a few. Communities as a whole are educated on the importance and impact of forestry in their county through websites, newspaper articles, and other publications.

By taking advantage of Public Law 106-393, the Boards of Supervisors have secured more money for county schools and roads. The Boards of Supervisors have also guaranteed an outstanding forestry education program for their residents through Title III and a Memorandum of Agreement with Mississippi State University Extension Forestry Department.

Participating Counties

Counties with enhanced forestry education programs, funded through Title III of Public Law 106-393, are Adams, Amite, Benton, Chickasaw, Forrest, Greene, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Jones, Lafayette, Lincoln, Perry, Scott, Sharkey and Wilkinson. Counties with forestry web pages have active hyperlinks below:

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need to manage my forest?

A well-managed forest can provide you with many benefits, such as increased economic returns, enhanced wildlife habitat, enhanced recreation opportunities, better water quality, or simply having a place to enjoy.

Where can I find information about managing my forest?

Information can be obtained from professional foresters. Foresters are trained in many different areas, one of them being forest management. There are foresters in Mississippi, who work for the Mississippi State University Extension Service, Mississippi Forestry Commission, Forest Industry, and as private forestry consultants.

How can I find out what my timber is worth?

The first step is to have a professional forester evaluate your property. Secondly, have the forester conduct a timber inventory "cruise" and appraise your timber. Talk with the forester about developing a management plan for your property, based on your objectives. The plan should include an inventory of the timber that is currently growing on your land.

How should I sell my timber?

The first step is to seek professional help. A consulting forester can inventory and appraise your timber, advertise the timber sale, and solicit competitive bids. The consultant will also oversee the timber harvesting and replanting of your land.

What are Best Management Practices (BMP's)?

BMP's are guidelines for forestry practices, which protect water quality when conducting timber management activities. BMP's should be included in your timber sale contract. You can obtain a copy of the Mississippi's Best Management Practices Handbook by contacting the Mississippi Forestry Commission.

How do I improve my forest for wildlife?

Many forest management activities can improve wildlife habitat. These activities include thinning, prescribed burning, firelane construction, and access roads. Ask your forester to develop a Stewardship Plan for your property. These plans address wildlife management, aesthetics, recreation, and erosion control, along with forest management.

How do I protect my land when harvesting timber?

Having a contract is essential. Include in the contract the specific BMP's that will apply to your harvest. It is strongly recommended that BMP's be followed when conducting all management activities to protect your land and maintain soil and water quality. The harvesting operation should be checked at least once a week.