Serving forest landowners and protecting the natural state
Arkansas is 56 percent forested. This includes 18.9 million forested acres, which are 40 percent oak-hickory, 32 percent pine, 16 percent bottomland hardwood, 10 percent oak-pine, and two percent cedar. The Arkansas Department of Agriculture – Forestry Division promotes rural and urban forest health, stewardship, development, and conservation. Arkansas’s Forest Action Plan discusses critical issues and presents strategic themes with specific objectives and actions for addressing them.
Conserving forests for the multitude of economic and environmental benefits they provide to all Arkansans
Arkansas proudly conserves approximately 3.7 million acres of forests under stable long-term ownership, e.g., state and federal ownership. The Forestry Division works directly with owners of nonindustrial private forests. Greater parcelization, changing landowner demographics, and lack of basic knowledge of forest management are barriers to maintaining and enhancing working forests. These barriers can be overcome through a combination of outreach, incentives, and development of value-added markets. The Forest Stewardship Program has been identified as one vehicle to provide landowners basic forestry knowledge, access to forestry professionals, and increase awareness of changing markets.
Protecting forests from catastrophic wildfire, insects, diseases, and other threats to forest health
Fire as a natural disturbance is integral to the health of many ecosystems found in Arkansas. At the same time, timber resources and rural populations need to be protected from wildfire. The Forestry Division is equipped to aid communities with wildfire suppression as well as participate in prescribed burning activities. Furthermore, the Forestry Division monitors forest disturbances related to threats such as insects, diseases, and abiotic stressors.
Enhancing forests and their environmental services through strategic partnerships and directives
Management and restoration of forested ecosystems is achieved by strong interagency collaboration. Partnership has a strong foundation in Arkansas, thus new challenges are approached through a shared mission. The Forestry Division works with other state and federal agencies and non-profits to develop and make available tools and training to increase the public’s awareness of forest benefits and threats. Initiatives focused on drinking water, public health, and environmental services help to deliver the message that trees are the answer.
Best Management Practices
Arkansas’ best management practices (BMPs) program is non-regulatory. The Arkansas Department of Agriculture – Forestry Division is responsible for BMPs development, offering courtesy examinations as a public service.
Click here to learn more about Arkansas’s BMPs program and recommendations on the state forestry agency website.
