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What is a Natural Area?
Seven Devils Swamp Natural Area
Natural areas are lands specifically managed to preserve, and sometimes restore, natural communities that are now rare. Prior to settlement, Arkansas contained a mosaic of natural communities ranging from dolomite glades in the Ozark Mountains, blackland prairies in the West Gulf Coastal Plain, to bald cypress-water tupelo swamps in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain.
In all, more than 70 different natural community types made up Arkansas's landscape during the early 1800s. Since the 1800s, urban development, agriculture, fire suppression, and the spread of invasive plant species have destroyed or degraded many of these natural communities.
Lands within the System of Natural Areas belong to all Arkansans and represent some of the only opportunities present and future generations will have to experience what Arkansas was like prior to settlement. They also represent vital habitat for a host animal and plant species.
Arkansas's natural areas are more than just a glimpse into the past or a last refuge for rare species. What these areas ultimately can provide are blueprints for understanding how Arkansas ecosystems originally functioned. Such information will be especially vital as Arkansas continues to develop and address important environmental issues into the future.
Visiting a Natural Area
Hikers at Kings River Falls
Many people have the mistaken assumption that once a piece of land is designated as a "natural area" that it must be left alone forever. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Along with actively managing these areas to maintain their ecological character, the ANHC also promotes low-impact, considerate use of natural areas. That means that activities such as hiking, botanizing, and bird-watching are perfectly suited for ANHC natural areas. Many natural areas also make excellent destinations for school field trips. However, to minimize impact on these lands, camping, horses, mountain bikes, and motorized vehicles are not allowed on natural areas.
Well, what about hunting, is that allowed? The ANHC recognizes that hunting is an important tool for managing populations of such game animals as white-tailed deer. In an effort to make natural areas accessible to a variety of users, the ANHC entered into a cooperative agreement with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC). In this agreement, a number of natural areas were incorporated into that agency's Wildlife Management Area System. Every effort has been made by the AGFC to provide maximum opportunity, maintain safety, protect healthy wildlife populations, and adhere to the conservation values inherent to the ANHC's System of Natural Areas. The specific type of hunting allowed on each natural area varies, so please consult current AGFC Hunting Regulations before visiting one of these sites.
Scientific research may also be conducted on natural areas. Allowable research practices vary and must first be approved by the ANHC. Researchers interested in conducting work on natural areas must first complete a Scientific Collecting Permit. Details regarding this process can be acquired from ANHC Data Manager Cindy Osborne.
