Who We Are
Since 1973, the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission (ANHC) has been working to conserve Arkansas’s natural landscape. The ANHC’s professional staff conducts on-the-ground field surveys to locate and evaluate occurrences of rare species and natural communities. Often published in scientific journals and presented at national, regional and state forums, their research findings and results are organized, analyzed, managed, and housed in the Arkansas Heritage Program biodiversity database. This wealth of information on over 800 rare species can be used to evaluate the relative imperilment of native species and shared for environmental planning purposes. We provide data to organizations and individuals involved with conservation efforts, economic development, scientific research, and education.
Based on sound scientific research, the ANHC evaluates the state’s ecologically important sites to set priorities for conservation in the System of Natural Areas. Stewardship of these lands requires proven techniques to preserve and sometimes restore unique ecosystems. On the ground, public access to natural areas varies as some have terrain that could be treacherous. While only a few areas contain developed trails, several are perfectly suited to low impact activities such as hiking and bird-watching. Many natural areas offer hunting opportunities according to regulations established in cooperation with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
The ANHC’s public outreach efforts strive to make biodiversity information interesting, easy to find, and easy to understand. We blend high-tech tools for large audiences with face-to-face presentations conducted by our subject matter experts. Educational programming is often offered to teachers and students to address state and national science standards using Arkansas-specific information, while our citizen science projects encourage all Arkansans to get outdoors, look around, and learn more about our natural heritage. Our goal is to provide an introduction to the natural treasures that are the heritage of every citizen in Arkansas.
To fulfill these responsibilities, the ANHC employs a professional staff dedicated to the conservation of Arkansas's natural diversity.
Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission Staff Directory
The ANHC is an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage (DAH).
The DAH is made up of seven agencies, each with its mission: Arkansas Arts Council, Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Historic Arkansas Museum, Delta Cultural Center in Helena, Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, and the Old State House Museum.