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It has been described as "the crown jewel of Mississippi," and for good reason. The scenic offshore barrier islands of Horn, Petit Bois, and Ship and Cat are pristine wilderness islands that are outstanding national treasures. Here the warm gulf waters lap onto white beaches, coastal marshes, bayouand live oak and magnolia forests.

Gulf Islands is a prime spot for swimming, kayaking and canoeing and is a birding hot spot: brown pelican, great blue heron and osprey are atop a birder's checklist. Visitors can also meander through historic sites. Loggerhead turtles, blue crabs and fiddler crabs call this home, and the waters of Gulf Islands support red drum, southern flounder and other fish.

Gulf Islands also serve an important hurricane protection role, acting as a buffer for the coast. But now this National Seashore is threatened by proposed oil and gas development. Recently passed federal legislation requires the Park Service to ignore the usual environmental rules governing oil and gas exploration in National Parks and leaves Gulf Islands specifically vulnerable.

Any offshore oil and gas exploration would harm barrier islands, tourism and the seafood industry, all of which would have ramifications for Mississippi's coastal economy. Sierra Club supports a federal buyout of the mineral rights under the park, currently owned and potentially exploited by the State of Mississippi. This precedent has been set at other National Parks: about $235 million was appropriated to purchase mineral rights under Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida in 2001 and 2002.

To join Sierra Club in advocating for Gulf Islands, please contact Louie Miller at sierrams@bellsouth.net or 601-359-1054.