De Soto National Forest is a protected landscape in southern Mississippi between Hattiesburg and Gulfport, covering 518,587 acres of mostly pine forest. Named for Hernando de Soto, it holds exceptional conservation value because it preserves longleaf pine savannas, pine flatwoods, and longleaf pine forests, an ecosystem that has been largely lost in the United States. Its wet pine savannas support rare and endangered species such as Calopogon multiflorus, gopher frogs, gopher tortoises, and carnivorous pitcher plants, with Buttercup Flats especially noted for these communities. The forest also offers extensive recreation, including wilderness areas, Black Creek, and more than 60 miles of hiking trails.