The Arkansas Conservation Partnership promotes a conservation ethic to enhance the ability of its members to serve rural and urban communities. The Arkansas Conservation Partnership strives to more effectively assist private landowners in meeting the conservation challenges of the 21^st century.

The mission of each partner directs the breadth and scope of their involvement in conservation for Arkansas . The various agencies have diverse missions that compliment and give strength to the partnership.

The six most important natural resource issues the Arkansas Conservation Partnership focuses on are: water resources, land resource management, conservation education and outreach, forestry health, 2002 Farm Bill implementation and community development.

The partnership, formed in 1992, consists of the following eight organizations: Natural Resources Conservation Service; Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Commission; Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts; Arkansas Association of Conservation District Employees; Arkansas Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc.;  University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service; University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff; and the Arkansas Forestry Commission

Results and Accomplishments

The Arkansas Conservation Partnership supported the Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts with $2,307,408 through Grants-to-Districts, quorum courts, water use reporting fees, and the Water Quality Technician, Voluntary Tax and Beaver Control programs.

In 2004, the Arkansas Conservation Partnership assisted NRCS in providing conservation technical assistance to more than 5,000 Arkansans, resulting in more the $51 million in program funding.

The partnership has been instrumental in youth conservation education with a Conservation Education Program in Sebastian County public schools since 1997, the Arkansas Envirothon, high school forestry clinics, Arkansas Ag Adventures at the Agricultural Awareness Center on the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff ’s research farm and Progressive Farmer Farm Safety Camps throughout the state.

The Ozark Foothills RC&D Council started the Ozark Foothills Forest Landowners Education Project to educate landowners regarding sustainable forest management practices and provide technical assistance to landowners. The project covers 11 counties the consist of more than 2.5 million acres of private forestland owned by more than 30,000 landowners. The project has provided assistance to approximately 25,000 forest landowners.

The Delta Resources Information Center provides technical assistance in the development of economic, social and natural resources of the delta region of the Mississippi River in eastern Arkansas. The center has provided computer training to Phillips County residents, and inventoried existing business and industry within four counties of the delta in search of additional value added industries for the area.