Acquisition of 270 acres for the globally imperiled dusky gopher frog

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Region 8 - Southern Region awarded $580,000 to the Mississippi Forestry Commission on September 5, 2025, under the Inflation Reduction Act - Forest Legacy Program (CFDA 10.734) for the acquisition of 270 acres designated for protection of the globally imperiled dusky gopher frog. The five-year project, with an ultimate completion date of September 4, 2030, supports the identification and preservation of environmentally important forest areas in Mississippi threatened by conversion to non-forest uses. This acquisition aligns with the Forest Legacy Program's core mission of protecting privately held forest lands through fee simple purchases and conservation strategies while maintaining records in perpetuity.

The Mississippi Forestry Commission, as the state's lead natural resource agency, will execute the land acquisition in compliance with the program's evaluation criteria including importance, threat level, and strategic value. The project directly supports wildlife habitat conservation for a species of critical conservation concern and contributes to Mississippi's broader Forest Action Plan priorities. Typical Forest Legacy Program acquisitions of this scope are completed within the two to five-year grant period and require adherence to national and state-level Forest Legacy Program standards established through consultation with the State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committees.