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Forest
Stewardship |
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Would
you like to manage your forestland for:
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Timber?
Wildlife? Recreation? Soil and Water Conservation?
If
you answer yes to more than one, the Forest Stewardship
Program is for you. The program can help you with multiple
forest resource management. Forest
stewardship is a commitment to your land for now and for the
future.
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Arkansas'
Forest Stewardship Program
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Arkansas
is blessed with approximately 18.4 million acres of forestland
of which over 58 percent is in private non-industrial
ownership.
Forest
Stewardship is the wise use and management of resources that
maintains and enhances the value of the forests for present
and future generations.
The
Forest Stewardship Program recognizes and rewards landowners
that are managing their forestlands according to a
multiple-use concept.
The
Forest Stewardship Program is also a means by which a
landowner has access to resource professionals to assist them
in obtaining a written forest management plan addressing
multiple-use management.
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Cooperating
Agencies
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Arkansas
Forestry Commission
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Arkansas
Game and Fish Commission
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Arkansas
Natural Resources Commission
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Arkansas Historic Preservation Program
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University
of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service
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Arkansas
Natural Heritage Commission
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USDA
Farm Service Agency
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USDA
Natural Resources Conservation Service
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USDA
Forest Service
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These
agencies offer their programs to all eligible persons
regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or
handicap, and are Equal Opportunity Employers.
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What
are the benefits to you, the landowner?
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| 1. |
A
prepared management plan at no cost to a landowner. |
| 2. |
Improved
income opportunities. |
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Recognition
of your efforts with a certificate and sign. |
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Knowledge
about natural resource management and assistance for
many management practices. |
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Enhancement
of wildlife through habitat protection and improvements. |
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Protection
against soil erosion and protection of water quality. |
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Conservation
of water and soil resources for now and the future. |
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Assurance
of a future supply of timber for forest products. |
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Restoration
and management of wetlands. |
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Recreational
opportunities. |
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Maintenance
and enhancement of the beauty of Arkansas' forests and
natural diversity. |
| 12. |
Maintenance
of unique historical and geological features. |
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Who is
eligible?
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You
are! If you are a private landowner and own a minimum of 10
acres of forests and you want to
manage the land for its many resources, the Arkansas Forest
Stewardship Program is for you.
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How
does a landowner become a forest steward?
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Fill
out the Stewardship Program application or contact a
cooperating agency. |
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Upon
receipt of the application at the district AFC office,
you will be contacted |
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Upon
entering the program, you and a multi-disciplinary team
of natural resource professionals will develop a forest
management plan. |
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You
will receive technical assistance toward the
implementation of your management plan. |
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After
significant progress in implementing your plan, you will
be nominated by a resource professional. |
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Your
nomination will be approved or disapproved by the State
Planning Committee. If approved . . . |
| 7. |
You
become a certified forest steward and receive a
certificate and a sign for the forestland. |
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| Forest
Steward's Creed
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I
Believe the right to own land is among the most
treasured and valued rights of all Americans; and
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I
Believe the ownership of land not only grants me the
privilege of pursuing my own goals but that it also
carries the responsibility of good stewardship; and
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I
Believe that good stewardship of this country's
precious natural resources is necessary to the
strength and well being of our nation and our world;
and
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I
Believe that good stewardship will improve the quality
and condition of the environment while contributing to
the natural beauty of Arkansas; and
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I
Believe that good stewardship of my land will help
provide this country's needs for forest products, for
clean air and water, for healthy and thriving
populations of fish and wildlife, and for forest based
recreation; and
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I
Believe that good stewardship of my lands will protect
our valuable and fragile soils; and
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I
Believe that good stewardship also involves protecting
my forest lands from insects, diseases, wildfire, and
overgrazing; and
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I
Believe further that by practicing good stewardship I
can set an example for other landowners while helping
my country set an example for the rest of the world.
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Therefore,
I pledge that I will practice stewardship management
of my land. I pledge to follow a written management
plan as detailed by the Arkansas Forest Stewardship
Program. As a participant in the Arkansas Forest
Stewardship Program it is my intent to care for my
land in such a manner that it will be in better
condition for those generations to follow me.
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