Mississippi Forestry Commission RESTORE Landowner Program

A Gulf Coast landowner program funded by a $7.25 million RESTORE grant, offering free forestry work to improve water quality in priority coastal watersheds: prescribed burning, forest management plans, Tree Farm certification, and potentially tree planting, invasive plant treatment, mulching and permanent firebreaks. It serves landowners in Jackson, Harrison, Hancock, George, Stone and Pearl River counties. It also funds cogongrass treatment in those six counties.

• Landowners with at least 10 acres in coastal or priority watershed regions of MS for most services (smaller tracts may be eligible for cogongrass treatment)

• Forested acres within Jackson, Harrison, Hancock, George, Stone, or Pearl River counties

• Properties that support healthy forested watersheds and contribute to Gulf water quality goals

• Applicants who have not participated in the Forest Resource Development Cost Share Program during the current fiscal year (July 1 – June 30)

No cost to eligible landowners (100% cost-share); cannot be combined with FRDP in the same fiscal year.

Published amounts: Free if you qualify: 'Eligible participants will receive 100% cost-share support for a variety of forest management activities, including tree planting and invasive species treatment' (MFC news, June 2025). Free activities include prescribed burns on private lands, sustainable forest management plans and American Tree Farm System certification; other activities could include tree planting, invasive plant treatment, mulching and permanent firebreaks.

Apply online through the RESTORE application (https://bit.ly/3HLPlHI); for information contact your Area Forester using the Forester Finder.

Deadline text on the page: No deadline published; 'Apply today and see if you are eligible.' Program launched June 2025 (MFC news, 2025-06-30).