LITTLE ROCK – Past and current employees, commissioners, partners and other supporters gathered yesterday at Rattlesnake Ridge Natural Area, near Roland, to celebrate the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission’s (ANHC) 50th anniversary year. Established in 1973, ANHC works to conserve Arkansas’ natural landscape by protecting the state’s rare plants, animals and high-quality natural communities.
The celebration featured speakers including past directors, partners, employees, commissioners and Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism Secretary Shea Lewis, followed by field trips to stations within the natural area.
Guests were able to learn about plants and natural communities with ANHC Chief of Research and Inventory, Theo Witsell; ANHC’s work with aquatics and herpetology with ANHC Aquatic Ecologist, Dr. Dustin Lynch; and ANHC’s land management practices and prescribed burns with ANHC Chief of Acquisitions and Stewardship, Ryan Spotts.
“In the past 50 years the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, a small state agency, has managed to conserve and protect more than 74,000 acres across Arkansas,” said Shea Lewis, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. “These lands serve as living museums, offering visitors a glimpse of what Arkansas looked like prior to development, while also providing a rustic, nature-oriented recreation experience. The future for ANHC is bright. There are many opportunities in the future for further preservation, conservation, restoration, recreation, education and continuation of the mission.”
ANHC addresses its conservation goals through two programs that work hand-in-hand – the Arkansas Heritage Program and the Arkansas Natural Areas Program. The Heritage Program collects information on the locations of rare species and high-quality natural communities across the state. The program’s database is used for planning purposes and is provided to organizations and individuals involved with the state’s conservation efforts, economic development, scientific research and education.
“Our research biologists spend much of their time conducting field surveys for rare species throughout the state,” said Bill Holimon, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission director. “They monitor known rare species, sometimes discovering previously unknown populations. The information that they collect provides scientific basis for ANHC to further understand the state’s rich diversity of plants, animals and natural communities.”
The Arkansas Natural Areas Program helps further meet the agency’s conservation goals by acquiring and managing land that directly protects natural communities and rare species. ANHC currently has 79 natural areas spread across 50 of the state’s 75 counties. They preserve the best and last best examples of natural communities across the state.
As a small agency, ANHC is able to accomplish its goals through the help of many partners.
“Our staff is known not only for their specialized knowledge, but also their ability to develop and maintain working relationships with partners who provide additional input and expertise,” said Holimon. “We are fortunate to have a supportive commission that is dedicated to conserving Arkansas’ natural heritage, as well as a committed volunteer base.”
ANHC has a 15-member commission, nine appointed by the governor and three each by the leaders of the Arkansas Senate and House of Representatives.
Rattlesnake Ridge Natural Area is one of 79 natural areas across the state that make up ANHC’s System of Natural Areas. ANHC has a conservation easement on the natural area, located in Pulaski County just west of Pinnacle Mountain State Park. The Nature Conservancy maintains fee title ownership, representing another public/private partnership that benefits the people of Arkansas.
Photos from the anniversary event can be viewed at https://tourismarkansas.mediavalet.com/portals/anhc50th
The celebration featured speakers including past directors, partners, employees, commissioners and Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism Secretary Shea Lewis, followed by field trips to stations within the natural area.
Guests were able to learn about plants and natural communities with ANHC Chief of Research and Inventory, Theo Witsell; ANHC’s work with aquatics and herpetology with ANHC Aquatic Ecologist, Dr. Dustin Lynch; and ANHC’s land management practices and prescribed burns with ANHC Chief of Acquisitions and Stewardship, Ryan Spotts.
“In the past 50 years the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, a small state agency, has managed to conserve and protect more than 74,000 acres across Arkansas,” said Shea Lewis, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. “These lands serve as living museums, offering visitors a glimpse of what Arkansas looked like prior to development, while also providing a rustic, nature-oriented recreation experience. The future for ANHC is bright. There are many opportunities in the future for further preservation, conservation, restoration, recreation, education and continuation of the mission.”
ANHC addresses its conservation goals through two programs that work hand-in-hand – the Arkansas Heritage Program and the Arkansas Natural Areas Program. The Heritage Program collects information on the locations of rare species and high-quality natural communities across the state. The program’s database is used for planning purposes and is provided to organizations and individuals involved with the state’s conservation efforts, economic development, scientific research and education.
“Our research biologists spend much of their time conducting field surveys for rare species throughout the state,” said Bill Holimon, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission director. “They monitor known rare species, sometimes discovering previously unknown populations. The information that they collect provides scientific basis for ANHC to further understand the state’s rich diversity of plants, animals and natural communities.”
The Arkansas Natural Areas Program helps further meet the agency’s conservation goals by acquiring and managing land that directly protects natural communities and rare species. ANHC currently has 79 natural areas spread across 50 of the state’s 75 counties. They preserve the best and last best examples of natural communities across the state.
As a small agency, ANHC is able to accomplish its goals through the help of many partners.
“Our staff is known not only for their specialized knowledge, but also their ability to develop and maintain working relationships with partners who provide additional input and expertise,” said Holimon. “We are fortunate to have a supportive commission that is dedicated to conserving Arkansas’ natural heritage, as well as a committed volunteer base.”
ANHC has a 15-member commission, nine appointed by the governor and three each by the leaders of the Arkansas Senate and House of Representatives.
Rattlesnake Ridge Natural Area is one of 79 natural areas across the state that make up ANHC’s System of Natural Areas. ANHC has a conservation easement on the natural area, located in Pulaski County just west of Pinnacle Mountain State Park. The Nature Conservancy maintains fee title ownership, representing another public/private partnership that benefits the people of Arkansas.