Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Coalition
The Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Coalition continues to work to support statewide efforts
that will enhance Mississippi’s quality of life for generations to come.
The Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Coalition was created for the purpose of expanding conservation efforts, improving outdoor recreation, and enhancing natural resources across the state.
The coalition supports improving outdoor recreational opportunities in communities across Mississippi, improving access to public lands and waters, and restoring wildlife habitat on public and private lands.
The Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Coalition supports a state-based revenue measure that provides long-term sustainable funding that enhances and conserves Mississippi’s wonderful natural resources.
In 2022 the Mississippi Legislature passed the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund Act.
This legislation, which received strong bipartisan support set up $10 million for the first year of the statewide conservation program.
In 2023 the legislature increased the funding to $15 million.
Communities across the state will now have access to funding sources to help improve water, public lands, bike trails, walking trails and other outdoor spaces.
Photo Credit: Audra Melton
“Ask anyone that’s using public land, whether that’s Mathews Brake, Holly Springs National Forest, or the Pascagoula River WMA – they’ll tell you that there are needed investments on those lands that will improve the property, the wildlife habitat it provides and the overall experience for the visitor… We’ve called Mississippi the capitol of the outdoors for a reason. Now we can begin to show exactly why.”
-Alex Littlejohn, The Nature Conservancy