JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office is pleased to announce that its East Mississippi Sentinel Landscape (EMSL) proposal has advanced to the final round of consideration for federal designation by the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership, a collaborative effort of the U.S. Department of Defense, Agriculture, and the Interior.

Originally submitted on April 9, 2025, the Expression of Interest (EOI) was developed in close cooperation with the Governor’s Office of Military Affairs and Mississippi State University’s Office of Research and Economic Development. The proposal outlines a bold vision to preserve and enhance the compatibility of rural working lands with the national defense missions at Columbus Air Force Base (CAFB) and Naval Air Station Meridian (NASMER). Mississippi has now been officially invited to submit a full proposal to the Federal Coordinating Committee (FCC), due on or before November 14, 2025.

The EMSL proposal builds on the critical aviation missions of CAFB—home to one-third of the Air Force’s pilot training—and NASMER—one of only two Navy bases training pilots for carrier-based operations. The landscape encompasses two national forests, multiple river basins, tribal lands, and vital agricultural and forested areas that serve both national defense and natural resource priorities.

“This designation would give Mississippi the opportunity to align federal, state, local, and private resources to protect military readiness, support working lands, and preserve critical ecosystems,” said Secretary of State Michael Watson. “Through the Conservation Task Force and strong leadership from our military installations, state agencies, and local partners, Mississippi is well-positioned to deliver a model of collaborative conservation and mission sustainment.”

The EMSL proposal aims to:

• Protect and buffer key military installations through strategic land use planning;
• Conserve habitat and water resources critical to both species recovery and base resilience;
• Sustain agriculture and forestry operations that are compatible with military training; and
• Coordinate long-term landscape resilience through shared investment and planning.

A final decision on the designation is expected in early 2026.

To learn more about the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership, visit www.sentinellandscapes.org.