Dahomey National Wildlife Refuge
Encyclopedia
Dahomey National Wildlife Refuge is located 15 miles (24.1 km) southwest of Cleveland, Mississippi
. It was established in 1990 when the Nature Conservancy (TNC) purchased 9269 acres (37.5 km²) and leased the land back to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
for management. In 1993, the Service completed acquisition of the TNC lands. One additional 162 acre (0.65559132 km²) tract was purchased by the Mississippi Department of Transportation
(MDOT) and turned over to the Service in 1991. A 260 acre 16th section tract is leased from the West Bolivar School Board bringing the total land base to 9691 acres (39.2 km²). The refuge is the largest remaining tract of bottomland hardwood
-forested wetlands in the northwest portion of Mississippi
.
Cleveland, Mississippi
Cleveland is a city in Bolivar County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 12,334 as of the 2010 census.Cleveland has a fairly large commercial economy, with numerous restaurants, stores, and services along U.S. Highway 61...
. It was established in 1990 when the Nature Conservancy (TNC) purchased 9269 acres (37.5 km²) and leased the land back to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...
for management. In 1993, the Service completed acquisition of the TNC lands. One additional 162 acre (0.65559132 km²) tract was purchased by the Mississippi Department of Transportation
Mississippi Department of Transportation
The Mississippi Department of Transportation is the operational agency of the Mississippi Transportation Commission tasked to maintain and improve the highway, rail, maritime, public transportation, and aviation infrastructure in the state...
(MDOT) and turned over to the Service in 1991. A 260 acre 16th section tract is leased from the West Bolivar School Board bringing the total land base to 9691 acres (39.2 km²). The refuge is the largest remaining tract of bottomland hardwood
Hardwood
Hardwood is wood from angiosperm trees . It may also be used for those trees themselves: these are usually broad-leaved; in temperate and boreal latitudes they are mostly deciduous, but in tropics and subtropics mostly evergreen.Hardwood contrasts with softwood...
-forested wetlands in the northwest portion of Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
.