| The Council, guided by the Properties Committee and with oversight by the Executive Board, continues to implement an ecological restoration program for Camp V-Bar at Salmen Scout Reservation. The goal remains to reintroduce longleaf pine ecosystems to the property. Longleaf pine forests were the major vegetation type on the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains from Virginia to Texas. One of the most useful of the southern pines, longleaf trees provided masts for ships and then poles for powerlines, and, from colonial times to today, rot resistant red lumber for flooring and fine furniture. Turpentine was refined from its sap. The demand for the tree resulted in it being virtually eliminated from its original range in many areas because of excessive harvesting and the challenges in replanting it. And, the general suppression of frequent naturally occurring fires did not allow the longleaf to regenerate. This loss caused a major biological disaster as the diversity of life supported by the longleaf ecosystem rivals the rainforests of the Amazon. Making Camp V-Bar a site for longleaf renaissance will require a lot of work, a lot of time, and a lot of fire. In 2025, the Council attained American Tree Farm System certification, which recognized the Council’s efforts to sustain Camp V-Bar’s forests, watershed, and healthy wildlife habitats. To further timber management projects started in 2009, the Council continues to pursue grants from state and federal agencies to conduct controlled burns on the property. The prescribed fire treatments will be conducted by trained professionals with oversight by the Council’s consulting foresters to ensure maximum benefit to the forest. Safety remains the Council’s first concern. No actions will be taken to endanger Scouts using the camp. Protection of camp infrastructure will be the second concern. The Council will protect structures and campsites and back-country shelters. Maximizing ecological benefits is the third concern. The burn reduces the risk of catastrophic wildfire at Camp V-Bar and also reduces risk to camp buildings and infrastructure. In turn, it makes Camp V-Bar a safer place for our Scouts to camp. Expect to see some changes when you visit camp. Burned areas will be black for a short while after burns and then will be covered in new growth in the understory. You'll be able to see further into the woods. You may see more wildlife. As more burns are conducted over time, you'll find Camp V-Bar to be a more enjoyable place to visit offering more opportunities for Scouts to earn Environmental Science, Fish and Wildlife, and Forestry merit badges. We remain pleased to be moving forward with the plans to make Camp V-Bar one of the best managed Scouting America camps in the nation. We assure you that all actions are carefully considered and are backed by sound science. If you have questions or concerns, please direct them to Torrey Hayden. Wikipedia about Longleaf Pine Mississippi University Longleaf Pine Salmen Scout Reservation – Forest Management Plan 2025-2035 (large pdf, please be patient when downloading) | 
