Forest Management Plan

Management activities to benefit wetlands, wildlife  

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s research unit, the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, or AES, comprised of five research and extension centers and seven research stations, operates research forests at four of its locations across the state: 

• The Livestock and Forestry Research Station near Batesville, with approximately 2,000 forested acres 
• The Pine Tree Research Station near Colt, with approximately 8,000 forested acres 
• The Savoy Research Complex, near Fayetteville, with approximately 2,200 forested acres 
• The Southwest Research and Extension Center near Hope, with approximately 260 forested acres. 

The forest resources on these centers and stations were originally managed by a resident director with input from administration and a registered forester. All these centers and stations had active forest management research and demonstration projects directed by faculty from AES and the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources at UA-Monticello. However, timberland acreage on some areas was under-managed for forest health and productivity, largely due to a decline in research grant opportunities, a shortage of forest management personnel, and timber market constraints. The notable exception is the Livestock and Forestry Research Station, where the resident forester, AES forest research faculty, and the resident director have successfully managed the forest for many years.

An emergent wetland along Second Creek at the Pine Tree Research Station.

In May 2020, Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station administration championed a more active role in managing the forest resources and hired a forester tasked with creating, updating and implementing forest management plans for all Division of Agriculture-owned forests. This report briefly summarizes the history, past management, current management actions, and future plans for AES forestlands. 

Guiding Management Goals for AES Forestlands 

AES forestlands located across the state represent forest types and management considerations unique to their specific regions. The overall goal of the Division of Agriculture’s forest management plan is to produce healthy, vigorous forests that are representative of the forest resources in their specific area of the state. The plan is intended to provide wood, wildlife habitat, clean water, carbon sequestration, and other benefits. A final objective is to create forest management resources and programs to assist local forest landowners and managers in meeting personal management goals on their forestlands. 

Forest Management Plan

Related information: 

See Pine Tree FAQs.

Videos from the Dec. 16, 2021, citizens committee meeting at Pine Tree. 

Transcript from Cunningham presentation. 

Transcript from McGowan presentation.