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Forests account for 65% of Mississippi’s total land use, generating $12.79 billion in revenue and creating more than 70,000 jobs, according to the Department of Forestry. NewsWatch Ole Miss reporter Cody Farris

Fossil fuels, such as coal, petroleum and natural gas have long been the primary sources of power in homes across the U.S. Now, renewable energy is changing the energy landscape in Mississippi.

Throughout the Southeast, foresters and activists are coming together to restore America’s longleaf pine forests. The Nature Conservancy reports that longleaf pines once dominated the coastal plain, covering more than 90 million

“All you have to do is make a drive through (Greene County) to see that our most abundant resource is trees, primarily pine trees,” long-term resident of Greene County, Miss., Danny Box

The McInnis family in Greene County, Miss. has been ingrained in the timber tradition for generations. Standing at the forefront is Dillon McInnis, a man who not only oversees the family’s timber