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Mississippi Code Title 49. Conservation and Ecology § 49-39-3

Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) “Board” means the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund.

(b) “Conservation land” means land and water, or interests therein, that are in their undeveloped, natural states or that have been developed only to the extent consistent with, or are restored to be consistent with, at least one (1) of the following environmental values or conservation benefits:

(i) Water quality protection for wetlands, rivers, streams or lakes;

(ii) Protection of wildlife habitat;

(iii) Protection of cultural sites and archeological and historic resources;

(iv) Protection of land around Mississippi's military installations to ensure that missions are compatible with surrounding communities and that encroachment on military installations does not impair future missions;

(v) Support of economic development through conservation projects;

(vi) Provision for recreation in the form of archery, boating, hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, running, jogging, biking, walking, shooting or similar outdoor activities; or

(vii) Recruiting or retention of recreation in the form of archery, boating, hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, running, jogging, biking, walking, shooting or similar outdoor activities.

(c) “Nongovernmental entity” means a nonprofit organization with a 501(c)(3) status that is primarily concerned with the protection and conservation of land and natural resources, as evidenced by its organizational documents.

(d) “Permanently protected conservation areas” means those resources:

(i) Owned by the federal government and dedicated for recreation or conservation or as a natural resource;

(ii) Owned by the State of Mississippi, or a county or municipality in Mississippi, and dedicated for recreation or conservation or as a natural resource;

(iii) Owned by the State of Mississippi, or a county or municipality in Mississippi, and subject to:

1. A conservation easement ensuring that the property will be maintained in a manner consistent with conservation land;

2. Contractual arrangements ensuring that, if the protected status is discontinued on a parcel, such property will be replaced by other conservation land which at the time of such replacement is of equal or greater monetary and resource protection value; or

3. A permanent restrictive covenant as provided in state law; or

(iv) Owned by any person or entity and subject to a conservation easement ensuring that the property will be maintained in a manner consistent with conservation land.

(e) “Project proposal” means any application seeking monies from the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund.

(f) “Special fund” means the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund created in Section 49-39-7.

(g) “State agency” means any agency, department, commission or institution of the State of Mississippi.

(h) “Working agricultural land” means land area that is either arable, under permanent crops or under permanent pastures. Arable land includes land under temporary crops such as cereals, temporary meadows for mowing or for pasture, land under market or kitchen gardens, and land temporarily fallow.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Mississippi Code Title 49. Conservation and Ecology § 49-39-3 - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ms/title-49-conservation-and-ecology/ms-code-sect-49-39-3/

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