Natchez has been chosen as the site for the annual conference of the Mississippi Forestry Association this year. More than 700 people are expected to attend the three-day event on Oct. 24, 25 and 26 at the Natchez Convention Center.

This year’s conference will provide information to landowners and the forestry community on many topics, including taxes, carbon sequestration, marketing and growing timber and tree farming.

Tours of historical trees, local industry and St. Catherine’s Creek Wildlife Refuge round out an enjoyable and informative event.

Forestry contributes to the high quality of life for Mississippians through clean air and water, carbon storage, wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation. In addition, forestry has a significant economic impact by providing approximately 142,000 jobs. The forestry related payroll exceeds $4.2 billion and contributes more than $13 billion to the state’s economy annually. Mississippi’s 19 million acres of forests provide more than 5,000 products that we use daily.

Ranging from your daily newspaper to books and computer paper and from lumber and furniture to many useful chemicals, timber and its by-products remain one of our most valuable natural resources.

Mississippi Forestry Association’s vision is to serve as “The Voice of Forestry” in Mississippi. In 1938 MFA was formed to guard and grow Mississippi’s forests and that is still our mission today. MFA is the only organization in the state that represents every group in the forestry community.

We lead the effort in protecting landowner rights, improving the forest products economy and educating the community about the ecological benefits of healthy, renewable forests and of the forest industry.

MFA is a private (non-government) nonprofit association. MFA has approximately 2,800 members in addition to 64 county forestry associations with more than 5,000 members.

The 2007 regular session of the Mississippi Legislature was extremely successful for Mississippi’s forestry community. During the session that ended on March 30, MFA tracked and/or lobbied more than 100 bills and resolutions, reporting regular highlights to MFA and country forestry association members via the “Legislative Bulletin.”

Overall, Mississippi’s forestry community fared very well as a historic accomplishment was achieved, key adverse legislation was defeated, and several desirable outcomes were attained.

Loggers, pulpwood producers and timber buyers are part of the association as are many companies such as Georgia Pacific, Plum Creek, International Paper and Weyhaeuser. Well-known local names such as J.M. Jones and Rives and Reynolds support the efforts of MFA.

Mississippi Forestry Association is a tremendous success story of education, government affairs, sustainable forestry and going everything possible to manage our forests to meet needs for today and for generations to come.

So, not only to learn, but also to have an entertaining time at banquets and parties, come join us. If you are a landowner or a member of the local Adams County Forestry Association, you are urged to attend at least some of this event.

Welcome forestry to Natchez.

Walter Dennis is a registered forester and on the state board of MFA.