Forestland in Mississippi is 89% privately owned, 8% federal, and 3% is owned by the state or local government totaling over 19.2 million acres across the state. The two major types of forestland in Mississippi are hardwood and oak-pine mixed timber. Forestland ownership is a significant asset for many families in Mississippi. Owners have a variety of objectives for managing their land that include:

Timber Revenue: Maximizing timber income through precommercial thinning, prescribed burns, and other TSI projects.

Wildlife Habitat: Creating and managing habitat that is more appealing and suitable in order to attract wildlife for viewing or hunting purposes.

Aesthetics/Privacy: Maintaining the beauty and scenic views of a forest for appearance an privacy purposes and for some; protecting nature.