The Legislature finds and declares:
That the economic progress of Mississippi depends in large measure upon the development and wise use of the natural resources of this state;
That the forest, wildlife and fisheries resources in this state constitute a vital segment of the natural resources available in Mississippi;
That the forest, wildlife and fisheries resources, when properly managed and efficiently utilized, contribute significantly to the economic well being of Mississippi;
That forestry, wildlife and related natural resource research programs can be coordinated, integrated and strengthened in a more efficient and effective manner when funded and managed jointly within a single administrative unit;
That there is a present and increasing need for additional knowledge of natural resource management and utilization practices, the impact of such practices on the long-term viability of forest, wildlife and fishery resources, and the interrelationship between natural resource management and utilization practices and those aspects of environmental quality associated with the state's forest and water resources; and
That this chapter is specifically designed to consolidate within a single administrative unit diverse programs of research which address the forest, wildlife and fisheries resources of the state and the management and utilization thereof.