Some local residents want city and county officials to explore environmentally friendly alternatives as they look for ways to replace hundreds of jobs lost when International Paper closed its chemical cellulose mill here last year.

Natchez resident Jim Allgood, who produces hunting and fishing segments for the television show Redneck Adventures, said outdoor recreation should be further developed in the Miss-Lou area.

&uot;We have a wealth of opportunity in hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor activities that we haven’t tried to develop. We kind of take for granted what’s in our own backyard,&uot; Allgood said.

Allgood pointed to Camps to Go &045;&045; a spin-off from a local construction company that now offers a line of small buildings for outdoor enthusiasts.

&uot;It’s an awesome concept. They build camps and storage sheds for hunters and fishermen,&uot; he said.

Outdoor recreation has grown in recent years from a traditionally male-dominated industry, Allgood said.

&uot;Women are the fastest-growing segment of the outdoor trade. It’s a family thing now,&uot; he said.

New York City native Peggy Pierrepont retired to Natchez eight years ago. She’d like to see the Mississippi River and the Natchez-Adams Port facility promoted more for recreational purposes, such as pleasure boating and kayaking.

&uot;Wouldn’t it be nice to have recreational boaters come to Natchez as a destination,&uot; she said.

A horse enthusiast with formal training in zoology and biology, Pierrepont learned to value a clean environment from an early age at her father’s organic farm in New Jersey.

&uot;My father was always upset that his neighbors were spraying so much insecticide on their properties,&uot; she said.

Pierrepont became vocal in Adams County environmental issues in 2002 when a local landfill applied for permission to accept construction debris from Connecticut.

And when Tessenderlo-Davison Chemicals explored the possibility of locating a facility in the Natchez-Adams area earlier this year, Pierrepont and other residents again voiced their concern about the potential environmental effects for local residents.

Still, Pierrepont understands the need for a balanced, well-reasoned approach to creating new job opportunities. &uot;We’re genuinely concerned &045;&045; not just contentious. We have a desire to be helpful,&uot; she said.

Natchez-Adams Economic Development Authority Director Michael Ferdinand said recreational industries are part of the EDA’s overall plan of action to bring new jobs to the area.

&uot;Tourism is one of the elements of our economy, and the recreation and leisure industry covers a wide range. We don’t specifically discuss our on-going projects, but we have worked with some companies in those (outdoor recreation) fields,&uot; Ferdinand said.

Environmental impact is a standard consideration with any prospective business, Ferdinand said.

&uot;It’s all part of the process. What you try to do with any business is find a best-fit scenario for the company and the county,&uot; he said.

Ferdinand said businesses also share a responsibility to be forthcoming about their potential impact on the environment.

&uot;Companies have an obligation to provide us with information on their operations,&uot; Ferdinand said.

Pierrepont suggested local leaders should seek input from residents at an earlier stage in economic development plans.

&uot;I think a few more people should be included before the deal is set. If we’re called in earlier, we could work together more positively,&uot; she said.