arkansas 2012 annual report

year-end reportarkansas

2012

Restoring the Little Red River

© Ethan Inlander

Story begins on page three.

from the board

2 The Nature Conservancy

t often seems like conflict, partisan bickering and suffering dominate the headlines.Does anybody work together anymore? Yes!

As you read this year-end report, you’ll see that everything The NatureConservancy does in Arkansas is rooted in partnerships—with landowners,governments, businesses, and other conservation groups. We are even doing someexciting partnership workinternationally. There’s reallya lot to be proud of inArkansas’ conservationcommunity. With so muchthat needs to be done, at ascale large enough to make alasting difference, poolingour efforts is essential. Our supporters areamong the most vitalpartners of all. If you are aNature Conservancymember, thank you for yourgifts. From my vantage pointon the Board of Trustees, Ican tell you that theArkansas program makesyour dollars go a long way. Ifyou are a volunteer, thankyou for your valuablecontributions of time andtalent. If you are readingabout us for the first time, thank you for your interest. I hope you find our collaborativestyle of conservation compelling and worthy of your support. Nature makes people’s lives better. Clean air to breath. Fresh water to drink.Healthy soils to grow food. Raw materials for every conceivable product. And when thenews or the rush of modern life gets to be too much, nature is there to offer respite andrenewal. I’m comforted to know there are places left to go that restore my heart andmind, places to disappear to where I can tune out the chatter of pundits and tune in thechatter of birds for awhile. Thank you for helping keep those places alive.

Dhu ThompsonChairman of the Board of Trustees

The Nature Conservancy in Arkansas

Working Together

I

“Climb the mountains and get

their good tidings. Nature’s

peace will flow into you as

sunshine flows into trees. The

winds will blow their own

freshness into you, and the

storms their energy, while

cares will drop off like

autumn leaves.”

–John Muir

restoring the little red river

3Arkansas Year-end Report/2012

very river has a story. Its bends and curves shift with each season, revealing thewater’s rushing and waning flow. A river’s banks can tell tales of drought and flood,

show tracks of wildlife and be the grounds of many family memories. Arkansas’ Little Red River has a particularly interesting story. With theconstruction of Greers Ferry Lake during the 1960s in north-central Arkansas, three ofthe four forks of the Little Red River north of the lake were isolated from each other. Italso eliminated much of the potential for genetic flow between these four rivers forspecies already at risk like the endangered yellowcheek darter fish (Etheostoma moorei) andthe speckled pocketbook mussel (Lampsilis streckeri). Then came the record-setting floods of 1982, when many lives were lost and partsof Arkansas were declared a disaster area. Nine feet of water flooded the entiredowntown of Clinton, where the Archey Fork and South Fork of the Little Red Rivermeet. To address future flooding concerns, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineerschannelized and dredged a 3.5-mile stretch of the river at Clinton. Although at the time it seemed like a necessary action, this channel that was hometo endangered species, lush bankside vegetation and plenty of recreation soon became a700-foot-wide eyesore. When the channel was widened, the banks eroded, the primehabitat was eliminated and it became too shallow for swimming, boating and fishing.

A Tale of Two Forks

EThe Conservancy is working with partners toimprove aquatic habitat and water quality on

the upper Little Red River near Clinton. © TNC

(Continued on page four)



(continued from page three)

Restoring the Banks of the “Clinton Ditch”

However, this river’s story comes full circle. In 2008 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service approached The Nature Conservancy to develop a restoration plan that would

improve habitat for the river’s vulnerable species while assuring flood protection for

the city. With input from partner agencies and city stakeholders, the design cametogether to restore this same 3.5-mile stretch of the river, bringing it back to near itsoriginal width and depth. “We’re going to build two types of structures, some of rock and some of wood,”said Joy DeClerk, river restoration program director for The Nature Conservancy inArkansas. “The rock structures will guide the water toward the center of thechannel, away from the banks. The wood structures will be buried at angles into thebanks to provide instant fish habitat and protection of the bank while we’rereplanting vegetation.” This restoration project will improve aquatic habitat and water quality, serve as amodel for reducing sediment and improve the quality of this great natural resource forthe people of Clinton. Funding for Phase I of this restoration was generously providedby Southwestern Energy Company.

The Conservancy installs in-stream structures, like the one pictured above, to direct a stream’s force away from eroding banks. © TNC

“The rock structures will

guide the water toward the

center of the channel, away

from the banks. The wood

structures will be buried at

angles into the banks to

provide instant fish habitat

and protection of the bank

while we’re replanting

vegetation.”

—Joy DeClerk



Collaborative Conservation

This project on the Archey Fork and South Fork issupported by a broad range of partners including municipalleaders from the City of Clinton, the U.S. Fish and WildlifeService, Southwestern Energy Company and many others. Onepartner, Don Richardson, floodplain administrator for the Cityof Clinton, is especially excited to see this project move forward. “I’ve been involved in this project for the past 30 years,” saidRichardson, who was mayor of Clinton just after the 1982 flood.“The very first ordinance I had to pass while in office wasClinton’s floodplain ordinance, which gives the city floodinsurance coverage from FEMA. Since then, I’ve been personallyvested in trying to restore the banks of the channel.” During the past five years, the Conservancy has had manysuccesses implementing stream and river restoration projects inArkansas. Using the science of Natural Channel Design,project managers have an understanding of natural channelprocesses and have created stable streams from rapidly erodingones. With this method, the staff has seen success on BensonSlash Creek in the Delta, the Middle Fork of the Saline Riverin the Ouachitas and the Middle Fork and South Fork of theLittle Red River.

Restoration at a Larger Scale

This project in Clinton is part of the Conservancy’sstatewide rivers program, which was initiated in 2003 withsupport from Arkansas trustee Fred Berry, in an effort to bringtogether state, federal and private partners to address decliningwater quality in Arkansas streams. Throughout the Ouachitas and Ozarks, the Conservancyhas worked with landowners to stabilize stream banks, financealternative watering methods to keep cattle out of streams andinventory more than a thousand miles of unpaved roads, whichcontribute to excess sediment in streams. “I think one of the most fascinating aspects of the Clintonproject is the scale of it,” said DeClerk. “So often our impactwithin the watershed is cumulative and the restoration we do isin smaller chunks. This project will be a great demonstration ofhow to successfully complete restoration at a larger scale; we’reworking with a lot of great partners and accomplishingmultiple objectives.” Richardson sees another success story.

(Continued on page six)

An aerial map shows the current footprint of the Archey Fork.The white lines indicate the path the river will take after the restoration

project is complete.

Field staff gather data to map the restoration site. © TNC



(continued from page five) “I believe in a little bit of time, this project will transform the river, turning it back

into a natural channel and allowing us to canoe and paddle right here in downtownClinton once again,” he said. “This could be an economic engine for the city and bring intourists. Whether you like to canoe or kayak or just walk the trail nearby, this will be awonderful place for our citizens.” n

To Our Volunteers:

Thank You!The Conservancy is grateful for over 300 volunteers whocontributed approximately 3,400 hours during 2012. Studentsfrom grade school to college and adults lent a hand in the officeand in the field with projects like river restoration, speciesmonitoring, workshop preparations and expanding ourherbarium. Pictured here (left to right) are Corie Bailey, RayThomas and volunteer coordinator Charlotte Bornemeier. Corieand Ray interned with TNC through the City of Little Rock’sSummer Jobs Alliance and New Futures Program. © TNC n

Restoring the upper Little Red River will improve conditions for paddling and fishing. © Joy DeClerk/TNC

conservation forestry


ith the recent acquisition of 1,688acres at Longview Saline Natural

Area, The Nature Conservancy andArkansas Natural Heritage Commis sionhave conserved 2,215 acres of the pineflatwoods ecosystem here, the second-leastprotected forest type in the United States. The Conservancy purchased theproperty from Molpus Timberlands andthen transferred it into the Commis -sion’s System of Natural Areas forpermanent conservation. Located in Ashley County, LongviewSaline Natural Area follows more than 2.5miles of the Saline River and conserves amosaic of rare natural communities foundin Arkansas’ Coastal Plain, such as salinebarrens, Carolina ash sloughs and deltapost oak flatwoods, among others. This natural area continues theCommission’s work to protect habitat for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker(Picoides borealis). Two endangered mussels, the winged mapleleaf (Quadrula fragosa) and thepink mucket (Lampsilis abrupta), are found within the stretch of the Saline River thatborders the natural area.

“This continues our collectiveprogress toward the goal ofconserving 60,000 acres ofArkansas’ rare pine flatwoodshabitat,” said Douglas Zollner,director of conservation sciencefor the Conservancy in Arkansas.“With this acquisition, the goal isonly 15,000 acres away.” The Commission plans to useconservation forestry techniquesto restore Longview SalineNatural Area, which means thatecological thinning of these pineflatwoods will provide aneconomic benefit to thecommunity while improvinghabitat for wildlife and rarespecies. n

Longview Saline—Conserving Pine Flatwoods

CelebratingLongview Saline

The Nature Conservancywould like to thank thesupporters and partners whocame to celebrate thededication of Longview SalineNatural Area this past April.On an incredibly hot springafternoon, nearly 80 peopleattended the event. Onehighlight was hearingGovernor Beebe’s Chief ofStaff Morril Harriman sharestories from his youth aboutthe Longview Saline area whiletalking about the governor’sconservation accomplish -ments. Thank you again foryour support! n

We celebrated the dedication of Longview Saline Natural Area with many partners and friendslast spring. © TNC

(Left to right) Morril Harriman of the Governor’s office,Joe Fox, former director of conservation forestry for theConservancy and Chris Colclasure of the ArkansasNatural Heritage Commission sign the dedicationdocuments. © TNC

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healthy rivers


Healing an Ailing Spring

stream bank stabilization project completed in October 2011 along Little OsageCreek in Benton County rescued critical habitat for two of Arkansas’ rarest fishes.

The creek’s eroding banks were about to collapse Healing Spring, which would haveeliminated its half-mile run into the creek and destroyed an important home for theArkansas darter (Etheostoma cragini) and the least darter (Etheostoma microperca). Thisproject not only protects these species, it also improves overall water quality andrecreational opportunities for Little Osage Creek, a tributary of the Illinois River. Forthe next few years, the Conservancy will continue stabilizing the creek’s banks byplanting natural vegetation to keep the soil in place. The Conservancy thanks theWalmart Storm Water Grant Committee for its generous support of this project.

Information Gap Filled

The first step in conserving a species is to know where it lives. In partnership withthe Missouri Resource Assessment Partnership and with funding from the U.S.Geological Survey and Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the Conservancycompleted a four-year-long project to develop detailed habitat maps for fish, crayfish andmussel species throughout the state. After gathering data on the distribution andoccurrence of species in Arkansas’ watersheds, the project staff created a series of maps

Ouachita and Ozark Rivers Programs

A

Taking measurements at Little Osage Creek. © TNC

The Conservancy installed a rock structure on Little Osage Creek to help maintain habitat for two rare darter species. © TNC

healthy rivers


that show known occurrences as well as refined species ranges and predicted habitat. TheConservancy and partners are using these maps to identify conservation priorities acrossthe state to help further their conservation work. For example, the Natural ResourcesConservation Service is using the maps for its current statewide resource assessment.

Roads Lead toRiver Health

The Conservancy has identified,analyzed and prioritized nearly 600miles of dirt and gravel public roads thatneed repair in the upper Little Red Riverwatershed. Some of these roads send alot of sediment into the river, whichdecreases the water quality of GreersFerry Lake, increases municipal watertreatment costs and threatens twoendangered species: the yellowcheekdarter fish and the speckled pocketbookmussel. The next phase of this project isto work with local road managers torepair eroding roads and implement bestpractices in building and maintainingunpaved roads. The Conservancy hosts workshops promoting best practices in gravel road design and maintenance

to reduce sediment runoff in Arkansas streams. © TNC

Sediment Reduced inLittle Red andStrawberry Rivers

Together with willing landowners,the Conservancy eliminated two roadsthat were washing significant amounts ofsediment into the Little Red River andStrawberry River. In one case, the roadwas replaced with a trail that is higher onthe ridge of the property; this new roadhas less impact on the river and still givesthe owner needed access. At theStrawberry River, the road that waseliminated was identified during anearlier assessment as contributing themost sediment to the river. Crewsreduced the slope of this steep road andcovered it with vegetation to reduce erosion. The landowners already had analternative route on their property, so there was no need to create a new road. n

Volunteers work to hay and seed an old road toreduce erosion in the Strawberry River. © TNC

delta news


his past May, The Nature Conservancy in Arkansas held

one of its largest events ever—all in the name of the CacheRiver. Nearly 400 people attended the “Save the Cache Bash,”people who have been advocating for the river some 40 yearsalongside those who learned about the Cache’s storied past andgot excited about its future. “The highlight of the event for me was the energy,” saidAnnie Feltus, trustee and donor relations manager for theConservancy in Arkansas. “I’ve never met people so passionateabout a place as they are about the Cache River.” The Conservancy held the bash to thank the people who inthe 1970s succeeded in stopping the channelization of the CacheRiver, as well as to celebrate the recent agreement between theU.S. Army Corps of Engineers, City of Clarendon and theConservancy. Through this agreement, the Army Corps willrestore 4.6 miles of natural meanders in the lower Cache Riverthat were channelized before the project was halted. Since the agreement, the Conservancy has been working onbehalf of the City of Clarendon—located just south of where therestoration will take place—to provide project managementoversight and help finalize construction designs for the project. “The local partner and community support for this projecthas been great,” said Roger Mangham, director of conservation

programs for the Conservancy in Arkansas. “The Army Corps isworking with local contractors on construction bids.” To prepare for the restoration, Conservancy scientists andmany partners completed a pre-construction biological survey offish populations in this area of the Cache River. This survey willbe a baseline by which to measure the success of the project,providing biological indicators of what’s currently there tocompare with post-construction surveys. One goal of the projectis to improve conditions for crappie, large-mouth bass, sunfishesand Delta obligate species, which will ultimately promote ahealthier river and provide more fishing opportunities. “We’ve been really lucky to work with such great partners onthis survey,” said Mangham. “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, ArkansasNatural Heritage Commission, Arkansas Game and FishCommission, they all came together in a hands-on, active way tohelp us with this project. This is and will continue to beindicative of the successful restoration of the Cache River.” n

Visit nature.org/Arkansas to watch theCache River’s story on video.

Restoring the Cache River With an Army of Support

(Left to right) Janine and Arthur Hart of Little Rock and Conservancytrustee Hank Browne and his wife, Cathy, of DeValls Bluff were among more

than 400 guests who attended the Save the Cache Bash in May. © TNC

(Left to right) Martha Clark, Vicki Saviers and Jane Rogers celebrate thenew partnership to restore the lower Cache River. © TNC

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delta news


Big Woods Reforestationith funding from the Mississippi River BasinInitiative (MRBI), the Wetlands Reserve

Enhancement Program (WREP) and support from theWalton Family Foundation, The Nature Conservancy inArkansas and many partners are restoring at least 12,000 acresof forest in the Cache River basin over the next five years. In 2010, the Conservancy and partners were awarded$15.75 million for WREP projects through the MRBI torestore 10,000 acres of marginal farmland to forests. Ofthese, the Conservancy was responsible for restoring 2,000acres, which it recently completed. Because of the ongoing progress, the Conservancy wasawarded additional funding from the MRBI to restore2,000 more acres of marginal, frequently flooded farmlandto forest. Restoring these forests will prevent sediment andnutrients from entering the Cache and White rivers andtheir tributaries, decrease flooding and improve bird andfish habitat. “All of these acres being reforested are a result of verystrategic planning and focusing funding where it canaccomplish the most,” said Roger Mangham, director ofconservation programs for the Conservancy in Arkansas.“This work is going to do the most good for the most people,from the rivers and wildlife to the landowners.” n

© TNC

Last spring, over 850 acres were reforested at M & C Farms along I-40 between Little Rock and Memphis. © TNC

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cave work


Conservancy Employee Authors Book on Caves

he Nature Conservancy’s Ozark Karst Program Director Mike Slay is one of threeauthors of the new book Cave Life of Oklahoma and Arkansas: Exploration and Conservation of

Subterranean Biodiversity, published in February by University of Oklahoma Press. “There really isn’t a lot of information available to researchers on these caveswithout doing a lot of digging,” Slay said. “We’ve been collecting all this information forabout 15 to 20 years now, so we thought we’d put it all together in one book.” The book covers what’s being done to protect Oklahoma’s and Arkansas’ caves andtheir associated species and what’s being done to protect the land above caves.Protecting the lands above improves water quality entering the caves, the groundwaterwe all use, and provides foraging space for bats and other cave-related animals. The bookalso offers insight into how conservationists can expand and improve these efforts. “A lot of cave species are out of sight, out of mind, so we tried to include as manycolor photos of the animals as possible,” Slay said. “We’re hoping this book allows peopleto make a connection to this habitat and the species here and realize the value inprotecting them. We both need clean groundwater.” Cave Life of Oklahoma and Arkansas can be purchased online at Amazon.com orOUPress.com. n

t’s small, inconspicuous, has no pigment and no eyes. But it needs clean water justlike people and is one of the main reasons The Nature Conservancy is working with

the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission at Foushee Cave. The Commission’s newly acquired 2,732-acre Foushee Cave Natural Area is the onlyplace in the world where the Foushee cavesnail (Amicola cora) is found, along with theFoushee cave springtail (Typhlogastrura fousheensis)—a type of subterranean insect. “Foushee Cave is one of the most diverse caves we have in Arkansas,” said Mike Slay,Ozark karst program director for the Conservancy in Arkansas. “This was a greatopportunity for our state to acquire a piece of property in such great condition; theywon’t need to spend time and resources restoring it.” In addition to the cavesnail and springtail, Foushee Cave supports 10 rare species,including the federally listed endangered gray bat and Indiana bat. The Commission’splan for the cave is to protect and maintain it, along with the associated forestcommunities of the White River Hills region in the Ozark Mountains. “The previous owners of Foushee Cave were great; they allowed us to monitor cavesnailpopulations there for the past four years,” Slay said. “The Conservancy will continuemonitoring and will assist the Commission in conserving the surrounding lands as needed,because what happens above ground directly affects the caves and the groundwater below.” Foushee Cave Natural Area will soon be open to the public for limited, low-impactactivities such as hiking, birding and photography. The cave itself will remain closed toprotect the sensitive animals living there. Boundaries will be marked, and a designatedparking area will be available for easy visitor access. n

Protecting a Global Rarity

I

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Foushee Cave is one of the most biologicallysignificant caves in the state. © ANHC

© University of Oklahoma Press

new lands


Acquisition Updatehanks to the generosity of NatureConservancy members and a

strong partnership with the ArkansasNatural Heritage Commission, togetherwe acquired nearly 2,100 acres of landlast year. These lands were added tonatural areas managed by theCommission and preserves managed bythe Conservancy. The Conservancy acquired 1,954acres in Benton County on the northside of Beaver Lake. Commonly called“Devil’s Eyebrow,” this scenic tract ismade up of high quality limestone glades,oak woodlands, limestone bluffs, andriparian forests containing several smallstreams. The Conservancy is in theprocess of transferring the property tothe Arkansas Natural Heritage andGame and Fish commissions. The Conservancy added 369 acres atTerre Noire near Arkadelphia, one of thebest remaining blackland prairie complexes in the state. This acquisition brings the totalacres conserved at Terre Noire to more than 850 acres. Slated for residentialdevelopment, the property is in good ecological condition and will instead beincorporated into the overall conservation management underway at Terre Noire. The Conservancy added 52 acres to Miller County Sandhills Natural Area, a highquality sandhill community with more rare plants than any other natural area inArkansas. This property was slated for commercial development but will now remain inits natural state and be incorporated into the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission’secological management. n

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Terre Noire © TNC

© TNC

fire restoration


-R-U-N-C-H. The charred remnants from last year’s prescribed burn crumbleunder his feet. As he walks, he notices the sun’s rays scatter through the open tree

canopy and hit the emerald green ground that is plush with the growth of new grassesand blooms of pale purple coneflower. Wandering a nearly 350,000-acre forest he feelslost, but he isn’t. McRee Anderson uses his tablet computer to navigate 150 monitoringplots and upload data. “The monitoring allows us to track our restoration progress,” said Anderson, firerestoration project manager for The Nature Conservancy in Arkansas. “We can seewhat’s working or what’s not and can adjust our burn regime or timber managementobjectives as needed. Tablet computers are a new addition this year; they save a lot oftime by allowing us to enter data on the spot.” Anderson’s work is part of two recently funded projects in Arkansas’ Ouachita andOzark forests, both supported by the federal Collaborative Forest LandscapeRestoration Program (CFLRP). The shortleaf-bluestem ecosystem restoration projectspans the Arkansas–Oklahoma border in and around the Ouachita National Forest, andthe Ozark Highlands ecosystem restoration project is located in northwest Arkansas inand around the Ozark National Forest. The projects encompass federal, state andprivate lands.

Conservation WorksNew Projects in Ouachita and Ozark ForestsSupport Nature and People

CWest end of Mount Magazine © TNC

fire restoration


“A win all around”

Both of these projects will provide nearly 400 timber-related jobs in ruralArkansas, restore 700,000 acres of woodlands, improve watershed conditions andrestore habitat for rare species and species in demand for hunting such as wild turkeyand white-tailed deer. “These projects show we can have jobs and healthy forests too,” said Joe Fox, stateforester with the Arkansas Forestry Commission. “They will provide wood products forthe nation, jobs for the region and a healthy forest ecosystem. It’s just a win all around.” The CFLRP was established in 2009 by the U.S. Forest Service to encourage thecollaborative, science-based ecosystem restoration of priority forest landscapes. Toreceive funding, projects must:

n achieve ecological, economic and social goals;n utilize local work force; n facilitate the reduction of wildfire management costs, through re-establishing

natural fire regimes and reducing the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire throughprescribed burns and thinning;

n demonstrate the degree to which various ecological restoration techniques achieveecological and watershed health objectives; and,

n encourage utilization of forest restoration by-products to offset treatment costs, tobenefit local rural economies and to improve forest health.

Building on Success

The Nature Conservancy’s involvement with these two projects is to assist federalpartners in prescribed burns and to document and track vegetation responses after fires.The lands here have been without fire for the past 80 years, leaving toomany trees per acre for a healthy forest habitat. With understoriesdominated by woody vegetation, once prominent grasses and forbs havebecome uncommon, reducing habitat needed to support wildlife like thered-cockaded woodpecker and bobwhite quail. “Our main goal is to restore these areas to healthy open woodlandsby using prescribed fire and timber management,” Anderson said. “We’lluse commercial timber sales to thin the overly dense forest and performburns every three to five years. In addition to the economic benefitsthese projects will bring the region, we’ll be restoring degraded habitatfor bobwhite quail.” Since 2002, the Conservancy in Arkansas has been working on itsown preserves and with other forest landowners to demonstrateconservation forestry: practices that provide the forest products people use every day at agood economic return for the landowner, while maintaining a healthy ecosystem that isessential to everyone’s quality of life. “These projects are not experimental; we’ve had great success in these areas,” saidDouglas Zollner, director of conservation science for the Conservancy in Arkansas. “I

Prescribed fire © TNC

“These projects show we can

have jobs and healthy forests

too. They will provide wood

products for the nation, jobs

for the region and a healthy

forest ecosystem. It’s just a

win all around.”

—Joe FoxState Forester

(Continued on page 16)

fire restoration


think this recentfunding isrecognition of somereally goodpartnerships andwork over the past 10to 20 years. Togetherwe’ve shown how tosucceed at restoringlarge forestlandscapes.”

LookingAhead

CFLRP funds will support the two projects’ restoration activities for a 10-yearperiod. During this time, nearly 540,000 acres of land will be treated with fire and/orinvasive species management, and an estimated 30,000 tons of trees will be harvested torestore natural woodland density. “It’s really exciting to be working on projects where The Nature Conservancy is anintegral part of the local community and the economy,” Zollner said. “We need Arkansas’viable timber industry as a partner in conservation, and Arkansas needs our work tosupport its timber industry.” Jobs, sustainable products, computer tablets and large-scale restoration: these are allcharacteristics of two 21st century conservation projects—projects that meet the needsof both nature and people. n

Frequently burned open oak woodland © TNC

Woodland sunflowers bloom in the Ozark National Forest when prescribed fire and ecologicalthinning let light into the understory. © John Andre

“These projects are not

experimental; we’ve had great

success in these areas. I think

this recent funding is

recognition of some really

good partnerships and work

over the past 10 to 20 years.

Together we’ve shown how to

succeed at restoring large

forest landscapes.”

—Douglas Zollner

fire restoration


his past May, McRee Anderson, Roger Mangham and Mike Melnechuk (prescribedfire practitioners from The Nature Conservancy in Arkansas) and several U.S.

Forest Service employees were invited to Zambia by the Conservancy’s Africa program totrain 20 employees of the Zambian Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) at Kafue National Park. The training covered the importance of prescribed fire, how to more efficientlyconduct prescribed fires and how to determine the need for prescribed fires in Zambia.Like much of Arkansas, historically woodland savannas and grasslands cover Zambia’slandscape and prescribed fire is an effective management tool. One of the main threats to Kafue National Park in Zambia is theextensive scale of the annual burning that occurs within park boundaries.Every year during the five-month dry season, more than 8 million acres areburned in both natural and human-induced fires. This training was the startof a five-year fire training exchange between ZAWA and The NatureConservancy that will find ways to manage these fires for the good of theland, its wildlife and its people. “We planned for the training to take two weeks, but it was extendedanother 10 days because ZAWA staff wanted to keep learning,” said MikeMelnechuk, fire restoration manager for the Conservancy in Arkansas. “Thisis just the beginning of a great partnership.” The Conservancy is now developing a three-year strategic plan for the Kafue fireprogram and identifying key personnel from the national park to host in Arkansas. Oneof the strategies under development in Kafue is a collaborative, landscape-scale firedemonstration project across the northern section of the park. This project will usemethods learned from the exchange program to host a series of scientifically drivenworkshops, which will help all participants develop a long-term strategy for sustainablefire management in Kafue National Park. n

Conservation from A to Z: Arkansas to Zambia

Zambian Wildlife Authority personnelparticipate on a training burn at Kafue

National Park. © TNC

Animals instantly gravitate toburned areas. © TNC

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fire restoration


hrough the treetops, amber beams of sunlight reach the woodland floor. Thebabbling spring is warmed by its rays as the wildflowers bask in the light. A scene

like this could be captured with paints and pastels, but instead the Crystal BridgesMuseum of American Art invites visitors to experience this landscape first hand. As one of the largest art museums in North America, Crystal Bridges has dedicatedits walls to many fine works of art, but its largest masterpiece lies outside. The museumsits on 120 acres, a majority of which contains wooded trails filled with wildflowers,sculptures and the museum’s namesake—Crystal Spring.

The Nature Conservancy is currentlyworking on 50 acres of this property.Until the Conservancy began work here,it had been 80 years since the site’s lastprescribed burn. To restore and maintainthe beauty of this landscape and reducethe risk of wildfire, the museum askedthe Conservancy for help in developing afive-year strategy that includesprescribed fires, education and outreach.

“This process will not only benefit theecosystem, it will also provide valuableeducational benefits to the public,” saidMcRee Anderson, fire restoration projectmanager for the Conservancy inArkansas. “With Crystal Bridges set in

the middle of downtown Bentonville and drawing around 2,000 visitors a week, it is theperfect opportunity to share with the public the importance of prescribed fire inmaintaining healthy woods and protecting the community from dangerous wildfires.” Crystal Bridges has turned the burns into interactive events by streaming livepodcasts of them and developing an appthat allows people to learn more aboutprescribed fire. This strategy will helpeducate future generations as well. “This project will ensure thatgenerations to come will understand whatan eastern deciduous forest is supposed tolook like and how to take care of it,” saidCrystal Bridges’ Director of Interpretation and Management Aaron Jones. The Conservancy has conducted two burns at Crystal Bridges so far, and visitors canalready see a dramatic reduction in unwanted woody undergrowth, an opening of thewoods, increased sunlight and native wildflowers that haven’t bloomed in 80 years. Morebutterflies and birds are visiting the area, too. Nature is one of art’s greatest inspirations, and the prescribed burns at CrystalBridges will keep it looking as beautiful as it does in the paintings. n

The Outside Art of Crystal Bridges Museum

The Conservancy (in yellow) and museumpersonnel monitor a prescribed fire at CrystalBridges Museum. The Conservancy’s firemanagement crew burned over 12,000 acres in2012 including enhanced work at urbandemonstration sites like Crystal Bridges. © TNC

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donors


Foundations$100,000+National Fish & Wildlife

Foundation/Walmart Acres for AmericaWalton Family FoundationWindgate Charitable Foundation

$50,000-99,999Charles M. & Joan R. Taylor Foundation

$25,000-49,999Murphy FoundationRoss Foundation

$10,000-24,999Arkansas Community FoundationSmith Holloway Patton FoundationThe Roy & Christine Sturgis Charitable &

Educational Trust

$5,000-9,999Donald W. Reynolds Foundation

$2,500-4,999The Bill & Sharon Arnold Family

FoundationCommunity Foundation of Greater

MemphisRebsamen Fund

$1,000-2,499The American Endowment FoundationBodenhamer FoundationC. Louis & Mary C. Cabe FoundationM. W. Murphy FoundationNational Christian Charitable Foundation

$500-999Morris Foundation, Inc.

Individuals$100,000+Mr. & Mrs. Hank BrowneRobyn & John HornLisenne Rockefeller

$50,000-99,999Witt & Carol Stephens

$25,000-49,999Margaret A. BarteltMr. & Mrs. Claiborne DemingMr. & Mrs. James D. Simpson III

$10,000-24,999Fred BerryMr. & Mrs. John ChamberlinMr. & Mrs. George DavisDr. & Mrs. Morriss HenryAnne A. HickmanRev. & Mrs. Christoph KellerJim LindseyMr. & Mrs. Don NelmsMr. & Mrs. William L. Patton, Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Thomas SchueckSteve StraussIrene & Gus VratsinasMr. & Mrs. Brent WhittingtonMr. & Mrs. Mike Wilson

$5,000-9,999Patricia CanadaMr. & Mrs. Greg FeltusMr. & Mrs. John P. FletcherJerome & Harriet JansmaGreg & Hannah LeeMr. & Mrs. Emon MahonyChip & Cindy MurphyKaren Seale, M.D.

$2,500-4,999Drs. Lee Abel & Eleanor KennedyDr. Brenda M. BoothMr. & Mrs. Richard W. BoothDr. & Mrs. Joel CarverMr. & Mrs. Jerry CohenMr. & Mrs. Clay FarrarLinda & Rush HardingStacy & Howard HurstMr. & Mrs. Drew KelsoKevin & Dr. Elicia KennedyMr. & Mrs. Robert LanfordMr. Wm. Kent MosleyMr. & Mrs. Neal PendergraftMr. & Mrs. Craig ShackelfordTony & Audra ThomasBecky & Gary WheelerGay WhiteMr. & Mrs. Glenn Yaffe

$1,000-2,499AnonymousMr. & Mrs. Kenneth AdamsRobert C. AlexanderDr. Tracy C. BaltzHank Bates & Barbara Miles

Drs. J. Neal Beaton & Janet UdoujMr. & Mrs. James BostLee BrenneisenMr. & Mrs. Thomas BrownMr. & Mrs. Blake ChandlerStuart CobbJames B. ConnerJ. Ryan DunnPeter S. DupreMr. & Mrs. Kyle EvansJose Pedro FigueiraDr. & Mrs. Robert FisherJohn & Judy FletcherLouise & Joe FoxDrs. William W. & Judith A. GallowayMr. & Mrs. John GillCharles GlasierDr. & Mrs. David GrambortStuart W. HankinsPeter & Margo HeinzelmannCarolyn HenryMr. & Mrs. Joe HenryDr. & Mrs. Donald HillLinda Vail HolbertDr. & Mrs. Robert G. HornbeckCatherine HughesClarice HunterMr. & Mrs. Walter HussmanJim & Ellen KaneJames D. KosterDr. & Mrs. D. Dean KumpurisMr. & Mrs. Oscar LeverenzMr. & Mrs. Gene LuMr. & Mrs. Clifford LyonMr. & Mrs. Lynn MarshallMr. & Mrs. Wendell McCune

Dr. & Mrs. Jay McDonaldMr. & Mrs. John David McFarlandTimothy J. McGauleyCarole & Chuck MeyerDrs. Keith & Donna MooneyMr. & Mrs. Larry MosbyMartha W. MurphyJudge & Mrs. David NewbernMr. & Mrs. Robert NolanGeoff & Leslie OelsnerDr. & Mrs. James PappasCurt & Susan PattonDan & Sandra PhillipsDr. Robert PowersMr. & Mrs. Robert RaneyMr. & Mrs. Stephen ReaElise RoenigkThelma RomeVicki & Mark SaviersMark O. SimonAngela & Scott SimonDr. John & Donna SimpsonDr. & Mrs. L. Gene SingletonDr. & Mrs. John SlavenMr. & Mrs. Donald SlawskyMr. & Mrs. David Snowden, Sr.Bill & Dana StewardSusan StraussDr. Barbara G. TaylorDr. & Mrs. Barry TedderMr. & Mrs. William TerryCharles E. Thomas IIMr. & Mrs. Bronson Van WyckWilliam S. WalkerDr. E. T. WarrenJudy & Randy WilbournHarvey & Terri WilliamsEd K. WillisMr. & Mrs. Richard WilsonRuth Ann Wisener & Don HarvellDarlene Yohe

$500-999John & Ruth AndréMr. & Mrs. Maurice BakerRobert C. BarkerGreg Barnes

Investors in ConservationWe are pleased to recognize the following donors for their cumulative gifts to Arkansas from October 1, 2011 toSeptember 30, 2012. Due to limited space, we are only able to list gifts of $500 and above. Every gift, no matter the size, isgratefully received. You make conservation possible. Thank you!

Catalysts $100,000+McGeorge Contracting Co., Inc.Southwestern Energy Company

Leaders $25,000-49,999Delta Plastics of the South, LLCTarco, Inc.

Conservators $10,000-24,999CargillCooper Communities, Inc.Deltic Timber CorporationSchueck Steel Co.Tyson Foods, Inc.Windstream Communications

Protectors $5,000-9,999Entergy Arkansas, Inc.Simmons First National BankSimmons FoodsWeyerhaeuser Company

Friends $2,500-4,999American Electric PowerBank of the OzarksBlandford Eye Care and SurgeryClean Line Energy Partners, LLCMazander Engineered EquipmentPlum Creek Timber Company

Potlatch CorporationSnyder Environmental

Supporters $1,000-2,499Adventure SubaruAnthony Forest Products Co.Arkansas Oklahoma Gas CorporationArvest Bank - FayettevilleAsh Grove Charitable FoundationAT&T, Inc.The Borné Firm Architects, P.A.Calion Lumber CompanyCedar Crest Cabin & LodgeCommerical National Bank of TexarkanaDelta Trust & BankDomtar Industries Inc.Dover Dixon Horne PLLCECCIEvergreen PackagingFlake & Kelley CommercialFriday, Eldredge & ClarkFTN Associates, LtdGeneral Cable CorporationGreen Bay Packaging, Inc.The Gutierrez Group-UBS Financial

Services, Inc.Hancock Forest Management, Inc.Harness Roofing, Inc.IK Electric Company, Inc.Lindsey Management Co., Inc.

Mahco Inc.Maxwell Hardwood FlooringThe McLarty CompaniesMitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates &

Woodyard PLLCMountaire CorporationMurphy Oil CorporationOzark Ecological Restorations, Inc.Pack Rat Outdoor CenterPatagonia, Inc.Prairie Market Inc.Regions BankRiggs Benevolent FundSeaArk BoatsSouthwest Power Pool

In KindArkansas Democrat-GazetteArkansas Professional LandscapesGiraffe Tree Service, Inc.Hank’s Furniture, Inc.Hillcrest Liquor & Fine WinesMESA: Integrating People, Place &

ProsperityQuattlebaum, Grooms, Tull & Burrow

PLLCRiggs CatTipton & Hurst, Inc.

Corporate Council for Conservation

donors


Rev. & Mrs. Donald BaustianMr. & Mrs. Richard BellKimberly K. BennettMr. & Mrs. Dennis BernerMr. & Mrs. Bob BiehunkoDuane BirkySharon BoatrightMr. & Mrs. Ray BostianMatt & Susan BradleyKathleen BrownWill B. ByfordMerrill & Bette ClarkNancy ClaybornJane S. DavisDebbie A. DossGar EiseleJohn ElrodHarry C. ErwinMr. & Mrs. Dan FarleyGlenna FecherMr. & Mrs. Curtis FinchMary S. GardnerDr. Adolfo D. GarnicaDan GliddenLawson & Judy GloverWilliam M. GreenJulianne D. GrundfestMr. & Mrs. Orville HallMr. & Mrs. Arthur HartJames D. HolladayRobert & Cathy D. HowellCalvin & Nancy JonesRenae & Stan JorgensenKen Keck & Beth LeonardDr. & Mrs. James LandersSherry LewisGar LilePaul MahanDr. Linda McGheeDr. & Mrs. James MetrailerDaniel MillerMichael MoyersJoshua A. NewmanChris & Lynn ParkerJohn & Pam PeaceLance & Leslie PeacockDr. Gary L. PurnellBradley & Holly RedingWilliam RedingMary Q. ReuterDoug & Gayla ReynoldsDavid & Caron RobertsDr. & Mrs. Porter RodgersSheilah & Den RoenfeldtMr. & Mrs. Archie SchafferLouis E. SchickelMark SmidtDr. & Mrs. Harvey Smith, Jr.Dr. & Mrs. Michael SugarmanDr. Charles SullivanSharon TackettDr. & Mrs. Gary ThomasMr. & Mrs. Randall ThompsonDrs. Srini Vasan & Diana JucasSidney VinsonBernardine WeixelmanCatherine O. WestDr. & Mrs. Paul Wilbur

Corporations$1,000+See Corporate Council for Conservation

on page 19.

$500-999Cornerstone BankGeorgia-Pacific Corporation

Organizations$1,000-2,499Arkansas Audubon SocietyNational Air Traffic Controllers AssociationNorthwest Arkansas Audubon Society

In Kind GiftsArkansas Democrat-GazetteArkansas Professional LandscapesHank & Cathy BrowneColonial Wines & SpiritsCynthia East FabricsRobert C. EastGiraffe Tree Service, Inc.Hank’s Furniture, Inc.Hillcrest Liquor & Fine WinesLucky Dog AudioMESA: Integrating People, Place &

ProsperityGeorge O’Connor & AssociatesOzark Ecological Restorations, Inc.Neal & Gina PendergraftPine Ridge GardensQuattlebaum, Grooms, Tull & Burrow PLLCRiggs CatTCPrint SolutionsTipton & Hurst, Inc.

Memorials(October 1, 2011–September 30, 2012)

Edward Rush BarrettGiven by Richard & Nancy Wilson

Robert BennettGiven by Tom, Susan & Susannah DeBlack

Max BornéGiven by Beth & Tom Foti

Grant CongerGiven by Mr. & Mrs. David Clark

Stuart CooperGiven by Mr. & Mrs. David Clark

Larry CummingsGiven by John Baran; Mr. & Mrs. John

Burford; Alice Hogsett-Carter; Irv &Gail Greenberg; Steve & Teresa Kemp;Clover Orfanos; Mary Pace-Chastant;Dr. & Mrs. Bruce Smith; Mr. & Mrs.Richard Smith; Mrs. Michae Stathakis;Gay Strakshus; Doug & Jessica Szenher

Louise & Frederick DierksGiven by Susan & Robin Borné

Babe GrinnellGiven by Mr. & Mrs. William L. Terry

Mary Elizabeth “Bookie” Hunt GulleyGiven by Mr. & Mrs. William L. Terry

Steve HenryGiven by Carolyn Henry

Dorothy HobbsGiven by Gale & Dianne Law

Thomas Jones HunterGiven by Clarice Hunter

Howard JoynerGiven by Mr. & Mrs. George Davis

Patricia KoonceGiven by Bonnie Melchior

Rita Anne LevermannGiven by Mary Anne Nilles

Robert A. LuxGiven by Catherine Lux

William McVickerGiven by Gay Strakshus

Johnson MelhornGiven by Susan & Robin Borné

Wilma Jean MooreGiven by Thelma Rome

David W. MortonGiven by Mr. & Mrs. Bill Johnson

Ervin PfeiferGiven by Teresa Shatwell

Patricia Murphey RostkerGiven by Susan & Robin Borné; Anne

Brooks; Patricia Rhine Brown & VirginiaRhine Stein; Ruth Ann Moren; ElsieNolan; Steve Saurenman

Parkin SaundersGiven by Nikki & Larry Lawson

Chuck SixourGiven by Bob Hogg & Catherine Pranskatis

Sam Strauss, Jr.Given by Sarah Swindler; Martha C. Taylor

Mattie Helen TullGiven by Carole Herrick

Tom B. Watson, D.V.M.Given by Stan & Delia James

Robert M. WilsonGiven by Mr. & Mrs. William L. Terry

Dr. Harold Dabbs Woodfin, Jr.Given by Max & Sheila Woodfin

Honorary Gifts(October 1, 2011–September 30, 2012)

Jay Barth & Chuck CliettGiven by Hope Coulter & Mel White

Mrs. Denny BellingrathGiven by Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Cranford

Mr. & Mrs. Mike BlanchatGiven by Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Cranford

Bill & Kat BlockGiven by Lee Mary Brenneisen

Susan BornéGiven by Buffalo National River Partners

Hank & Cathy BrowneGiven by Chip & Cindy Murphy

John & Caroline ClarkeGiven by Sherry Lewis

Toby & Eileen CoeGiven by Sherry Lewis

John A. Cooper IIIGiven by Hardy Winburn

Nancy DeLamarGiven by Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Cranford

Mr. & Mrs. Jim DuckettGiven by Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Cranford

CentralArkansasAdvisoryCouncil

Michael Moyers,

Chairman

Ben Hearnsberger,

Vice Chairman

Mary Browne Allen

Ryan Allen

Tom Crowder

Kacky Fuller

Matt Graves

Ben Hearnsberger

Ginny Porter

Sam Selig

Clark Tennyson

Malina Vibhakar

Nathan Vibhakar

NorthwestArkansasAdvisoryCouncil

Harvey Williams,

Chairman

Brandon Nikolish,

Vice Chairman

Carolyn Crook

Cathy Foraker

Gene Groseclos

Dr. Peter R. Heinzelmann

Ann Henry

Morriss Henry

Tim Hynes

David Nelms

Dr. Gary Thomas

Dick Trammel

Joe Woolbright

donors


Aditi DuttachowdhuryGiven by Nupur Duttachowdhury

Mr. & Mrs. Joe T. FordGiven by Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Cranford

Bill & Judy GallowayGiven by Don Pennington

Marcelline GiroirGiven by Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Cranford

Dr. & Mrs. Tim GoodsonGiven by Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Cranford

Brandon M. GrumieauxGiven by Cathleen Baker

Netta HaresGiven by Sherry Lewis

Mr. & Mrs. Jeff HathawayGiven by Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Cranford

Mr. & Mrs. Jim HathawayGiven by Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Cranford

Lenora HenryGiven by Carolyn Henry

Morriss & Ann HenryGiven by Mr. & Mrs. Orville Hall, Jr.

Anne HickmanGiven by Diane & René Bressinck; Mr. &

Mrs. Wayne Cranford

Barbara HooverGiven by Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Cranford

Mr. & Mrs. Howard HurstGiven by Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Cranford

Mr. & Mrs. Joe HurstGiven by Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Cranford

Ben & Walter HussmanGiven by Dr. & Mrs. James Landers

Chris Lewis & Sara PottsGiven by Sherry Lewis

Jim LindseyGiven by Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Cranford

Diane MackeyGiven by Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Cranford

Mr. & Mrs. Lynn MarshallGiven by Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Cranford

Mr. & Mrs. Tommy MayGiven by Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Cranford

Julie McSpaddenGiven by Patrick Stair

Mr. & Mrs. Beadle MooreGiven by Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Cranford

Mr. & Mrs. Tad PhillipsGiven by Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Cranford

Mr. & Mrs. Tom PughGiven by Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Cranford

Tom & Susan SchallhornGiven by Sherry Lewis

Belinda ShultsGiven by Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Cranford

J. D. SimpsonGiven by Witt & Carol Stephens

For Legacy Club members Allan and Kathleen Mueller, life is always on the move. When they

aren’t taking in the tremendous valley view from their home atop Cadron Ridge outside of

Conway, they are off to visit natural places close to home and around the world. Allan and Kathleen grew up in small towns in St. Charles County, Missouri. “We were incollege when we met at a church dance,” remembered Kathleen. After college, Allan served inVietnam with the U.S. Army;they married while he wasstationed in Germany. They both had longappreciated nature, Kathleensaid, but meeting Allan‘kicked her into high gear’and his love of birding soonspread to her. A 32-year career withthe U.S. Fish and WildlifeService took Allan up anddown the Mississippi Riverand into the Arkansas Deltaand Ozarks. He retired forexactly one day before joining The Nature Conservancy’s staff from 2006 to 2009 tocoordinate the search for the ivory-billed woodpecker in the Big Woods of Arkansas. Thoughthe job sometimes tested him—he would dash out on a moment’s notice, once on a frigid NewYear’s Eve, to respond to potential sightings—he was rewarded with a glimpse of the bird atWattensaw Bayou. “The experience was pretty thrilling,” Allan said. He is a black belt inIsshin-Ryu karate, which may explain his focused patience in birding. Forty-five years of marriage and two sons later, the Muellers are now enjoying morebirding adventures than ever. They have traveled throughout North America and beyond,including Peru, Kenya and the Caribbean. Their birding lists demand seeing 100 species inevery U.S. state and half of the bird species in states where they’ve lived. Hawaii is the lastholdout, and they’re up to 71 species. “We have to go back to Hawaii—horrible!” Kathleenjoked. Allan also can be found occasionally leading field trips for Conservancy members inArkansas’ Big Woods. The Muellers have been Conservancy members for more than 30 years and joined theLegacy Club several years ago with their contribution to fund a Flexible Deferred GiftAnnuity. In explaining their support, Allan noted, “The Conservancy takes a differentapproach—not confrontational and nevertheless still effective.” “They do a very good job and get things done,” Kathleen added. The Nature Conservancy can get things done only with the support of dedicatedmembers like the Muellers. n

Profile of Giving: Allan and Kathleen Mueller

Allan and Kathleen Mueller

donors


Mr. David Snowden, Jr.Given by Mr. & Mrs. James Bartholmey; Mr.

& Mrs. Mark Bitsche; Mr. & Mrs.Timothy Mines; Mr. & Mrs. RandallNaylor; Jeff Powell; Mr. & Mrs. RickeySmith; Mr. & Mrs. David Snowden, Sr.;Amy Tripp

Dr. Pavel G. SomovGiven by Charles Woodward

Martha SowellGiven by Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Cranford

Gov. & Mrs. Jim Guy TuckerGiven by Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Cranford

Floyd Daniel TurleyGiven by Thelma Rome

Mr. & Mrs. Richard UptonGiven by Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Cranford

Mr. & Mrs. Shelby WoodsGiven by Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Cranford

Mr. & Mrs. Wayne WoodsGiven by Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Cranford

Anonymous (43)Harry & Lois AlwardJohn & Ruth AndreMichael C. ArendDorothy BaileyJimmie Daniel Baldwin, Sr.Sandra BallMargaret BarteltThe Rev. Donald & Beverly BaustianFred BerrySusan & Robin BornéHenry P. Browder & Janice L. MorrisonKathleen BrownDavid & Linda BuegeBreckinridge CampbellMilton D. & Mary C. CampbellPatricia Stovall CanadaBud T. CarterJ. Sanders & Sue Clatworthy

Robert G. Clearwater & Gail V. CarlsonJean & Michael CosgroveEsther Mary CraneThomas (Mike) & Sarah CumnockJack DavisPaula Davis Kelly DayDr. Doris DehneNancy DeLamarBruce & Cindy DenneyRobert L. (Bob) DicksonDebbie DossKathleen EdwardsClifton & Mollie EoffDan & Debra FarleyMarion FulkVance GordonDr. David GrambortTeryna Gregory

Mark & Carla GreisenIris A. GruwellC. Stephen HaaseMargaret HankewichJack C. & Carolyn HansenJane & Batson HarkeyJohn & Madlyn HarwellPeter & Margo HeinzelmannMartha C. HenryEmmabell C. HerakKaren J. HillKarmen HopkinsWilliam R. HowardEdward & Marion HuckinsRaeburn A. HughesClarice HunterCheryl E. IrbyLarry & Ann IwenKay JankyJerome & Harriet JansmaDr. William Paul & Rebecca KingMildred KrisikRobert L. LanfordFarrell (Bo) & Brenda LeaJoanne LerouxRichard Leach & Wanda MurrayOscar & Marjorie LeverenzEd & Judy LigonAnnee LittellRenate LoganCatherine LuxRocky LynchSuzanne H. MacRaeWendell & Dayle McCuneJames & Judy Miller

Suzanne MiltichConstance G. MorganAllan & Kathleen MuellerDr. Linda MusunJames H. MyersJohn & Radine Trees NehringLarry R. OnstottNorma Childers PattersonDan & Sandy PhillipsDelwanda J. PowellMr. & Mrs. Neale A. QuinnCarol Stafford RalphSteve & Nancy ReaGeorge R. RhoadsBill & Emily RobertsonDen & Sheilah RoenfeldtKendra RoesnerPrudence SchnoebelenFrieda & John C. (Cliff ) Schroder Duane & Marilyn SchroederScott & Angela SimonJ. D. & Ginna SimpsonDr. John B. SimpsonJohn & Cathy SlaterDon & Anna SlawskyEarl A. StanekJack & Pam StewartSteve StraussRussell & Melda J. StricklandHelen SweetGary & JaLynn ThomasMary & Roy VailJ. Pat ValentikNancy J. VarvilFrancine WalkerKenneth R. WalkerPeggy WalshMr. & Mrs. W. G. WelterCatherine O. WestGay WhiteWayne & Colleen WhitneyHarvey & Terri WilliamsMary Remmel WohllebDr. & Mrs. George L. WolffWilliam R. WomackDarlene Yohe

Legacy Club MembersThe Legacy Club honors those who remember the Conservancy in their wills or estate plans or who make a life-income gift. We are proud to recognize these members in Arkansas. For gift planning information, contact SusanBorné at (501) 614-5071 or [email protected] or visit nature.org/gift-planning.

We were honored to receive bequests from the estatesof Mrs. Norma Nelson, Mr. James Shively, Dr. Arthur Fry,Frances B. & Glen A. Cole, and Katherine Buchanan thispast year to support conservation in Arkansas.

To make a gift of any kind is an act of generosity. Tomake a long-term gift—one derived from the work of alifetime—is to make a commitment beyond measure.

To the many supporters and friends of The Nature Conservancy in Arkansas, the entire staff thanks you! © TNC

annual report


Financial SummaryFor the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2012

Support & revenueDues and contributions $4,050,171Government grants 776,610Investment income 91,649Other income 229,859Land sales and gifts 3,391,280Support from/(to) other TNC management units (1,000,549)

Total Support & Revenue $7,539,020

Expenses & purchases of conservation land & easementsConservation activities and actions $3,813,029Purchases of conservation land and easements 3,593,330

Total conservation program expenses & purchases of conservation land & easements $7,406,359

General and administrative $483,266Fundraising 502,456

Total administration & fundraising $985,722

Total expenses & purchases of conservation land & easements $8,392,081

Net result–support & revenue over expenses & purchases of conservation lands & easements (Note A) $(853,061)

Fundraising summaryFundraising expenses as a percentage

of total expenses & purchases of conservation land & easements (Note B) 6.0%

Asset, liability & net asset summaryConservation land & easements $40,785,202Investments held for conservation projects 4,134,607Endowment investments 2,756,149Property & equipment (net of depreciation) 1,435,854Other assets 78,648

Total assets $49,190,460

Internal LPF loans 5,932,496Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 1,270,562Notes payable 365,000Other liabilities 46,938Total net assets 41,575,464

Total liabilities and net assets $49,190,460

Notes:(A) Not intended to represent change in net assets(B) This calculation represents fundraising at the field level only

and is not reflective of TNC as a whole.

Program: 88%

Fundraising: 6%

General &administration: 6%

Individuals: 44%

Foundations: 29%

Corporations: 20%

World Officememberships: 6%

Support and Revenue

Expenses & Purchases

The Nature Conservancy in Arkansas601 North University AvenueLittle Rock, Arkansas 72205TEL (501) 663-6699

nature.org/arkansas

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© TNC 2012

2013 Board of Trustees

ChairmanDhu Thompson, Little Rock

Vice ChairmanGus Vratsinas, Little Rock

SecretaryGay White, Little Rock

TreasurerBrent Whittington, Little Rock

Fred Berry, YellvilleHank Browne, DeValls BluffJohn Chamberlin, Little RockJohn Cooper, III, RogersRobert Covington, Jr., Little RockGreg Feltus, Little RockAnn Henry, FayettevilleRhonda Hunter, DeQueenStacy Hurst, Little RockBen Hussman, Little RockRobert Lanford, Little RockDon Nelms, FayettevilleLisenne Rockefeller, Little RockMark Saviers, Little RockArchie Schaffer, III, FayettevilleTom Schueck, Little RockCraig Shackelford, MontroseJ. D. Simpson, III, Little RockDavid Snowden, Jr., Little RockWitt Stephens, Jr., Little RockMike Wilson, Jacksonville

DirectorScott Simon, Little Rock

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Arkansas Field Office601 N. University Ave.Little Rock, AR 72205(501) 663-6699

Ozark Highlands Office38 West Trenton Blvd., Suite 201Fayetteville, AR 72701(479) 973-9110

Southwest Arkansas Office4220 MC 24Fouke, AR 71837(903) 280-0948

Interior HighlandsFire Restoration Office

HC 70, Box 470Jasper, AR 72641(870) 861-5131

Worldwide Office4245 N. Fairfax Dr.,Suite 100Arlington, VA 22203

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arkansas 2012 annual report

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