Section 49-19-51. Title; cooperation of state agencies.
Sections 49-19-51 to 49-19-75 shall be known as "The Forest Harvesting Law," and may be cited as such, and to effectively carry out the purposes of such sections all agencies of the state whose duty it is to encourage and apply its laws, including any and all boards, commissions, bureaus and other bodies, shall make such interpretation and applications as will most nearly comply with the intent and purposes set forth in section 49-19-53.
SOURCES: Codes, 1942, Sec. 6046-11; Laws, 1944, ch. 240, Sec. 2.
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Section 49-19-53. Forest harvesting law; legislative policy.
It is hereby recognized that only a small proportion of the privately owned forest land in the State of Mississippi is now managed in accordance with sound forestry practices; that there is waste, inefficiency and wanton destruction of the forest lands in the harvesting of forest products and the utilization of forest lands; that such conditions are resulting in serious economic and social loss and that it is hereby recognized that state regulation of harvesting of forest products and the utilization of forest lands in the state is essential to promote health, safety and general welfare of the people of the state. It is, therefore, declared to be the public policy of the State of Mississippi and the purposes of sections 49-19-51 to 49-19-75 to encourage better management of forest lands; to increase the efficiency in the harvesting of forest products and utilization of forest lands; to preserve the tax base represented by forests and forest lands; to preserve and develop forest lands for the equal and guaranteed use for future generations; to preserve and protect the forest resources and the continuous growth of timber on lands suitable therefor; to insure an adequate supply of forest products at all times; to prevent soil erosion and consequent silting of stream channels and reservoirs; to protect watersheds and reservoirs and to insure at all times an adequate supply of water of the forest quality; to preserve and insure for all times adequate habitats for wild life; to preserve scenic beauty and to insure adequate facilities for outdoor recreation for public use; and to reduce forest fire hazards and encourage private ownership, economic management and scientific development of forest lands.
SOURCES: Codes, 1942, Sec. 6046-10; Laws, 1944, ch. 240, Sec. 1.
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Section 49-19-55. Trees to be left standing; cutting for naval stores.
No person, firm, partnership, association, or corporation shall work, contract to work, authorize, direct or assist in the working of new faces for naval stores purposes on trees less than ten inches in diameter unless there is left unfaced or untapped on each acre of forest land being worked one hundred (100) or more well distributed trees four inches or more in diameter, or at least four (4) seed trees of ten inches or more in diameter.
SOURCES: Codes, 1942, Sec. 6046-12; Laws, 1944, ch. 240, Sec. 3.
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Section 49-19-57. Pine trees.
(a) No person, partnership, firm, association or corporation shall cut, authorize, direct or assist in the cutting for commercial purposes any pine trees unless there is left standing on each acre of forest land being harvested at least four pine seed trees of ten inches or more in diameter, except as hereinafter provided.
(b) No person, partnership, firm, association, or corporation shall cut, contract to cut, authorize, direct or assist in the cutting for commercial purposes any pine trees under ten inches in diameter unless there is left standing on each acre of forest land being harvested, one hundred (100) or more well distributed pine trees four inches or more in diameter or at least four pine seed trees of ten inches or more in diameter. However, an operator may submit to the enforcing agency an acceptable plan of management which will assure continued productivity of the area to be harvested in lieu of the above provisions.
SOURCES: Codes, 1942, Sec. 6046-13; Laws, 1944, ch. 240, Sec. 4.
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Section 49-19-59. Hardwood trees.
(a) No person, partnership, firm, association, or corporation shall cut, contract to cut, authorize, direct or assist in the cutting for commercial purposes any hardwood trees unless there is left standing on each acre of forest land being harvested at least six hardwood trees of ten inches or more in diameter of the commercial species being harvested, except as hereinafter provided.
(b) No person, partnership, firm, association, or corporation shall cut, contract to cut, authorize, direct, or assist in the cutting for commercial purposes any hardwood trees under ten inches in diameter unless there is left standing on each acre of forest land being harvested one hundred (100) or more well distributed hardwood trees of four inches or more in diameter or at least six hardwood seed trees of ten inches or more in diameter of the commercial species being harvested.
SOURCES: Codes, 1942, Sec. 6046-14; Laws, 1944, ch. 240, Sec. 5.
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Section 49-19-61. Mixed pine and hardwood trees.
Where timber is to be harvested for commercial purposes on forest lands containing a mixed stand of pine and hardwood timber, no person, partnership, firm, association or corporation shall cut, contract to cut, authorize, direct or assist in cutting of any timber from such lands unless there is left standing on each acre of land at least four pine seed trees of ten inches or more in diameter of the commercial species being harvested along with at least two hardwood seed trees of ten inches or more in diameter of the commercial species which is being harvested. In the event that pine trees predominate in such mixed stands, and it is desired that pine trees less than eight inches in diameter are to be harvested, section < href="#49-19-57">49-19-57
shall rule. On lands classified as mixed stands of pine and hardwood there shall be no limitations on the amount or size of the hardwood trees harvested.
