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Managing Natural Areas
Patch of prairie surrounded by agriculture
The very concept of "natural areas" would seem to imply that these are places that should be left untouched by man. However, the reality is often just the opposite.
Today, many natural areas exist as "islands" of natural habitat in a sea of disturbed land. What happens, or in some cases, does not happen on surrounding lands can have a profound impact on the ecological integrity of natural areas. As a result, we cannot simply fence these lands in and just walk away.
Rather, long-term viability of remnant natural communities requires active and sound management to offset the often-negative influences of surrounding land uses. In some cases, human influences have so interrupted natural ecological processes that some natural areas require restoration efforts to bring them back to a healthy condition.
Prescribed Fire
Staff conduct a prescribed burn
A perfect example of the latter is fire suppression. Many natural communities, including tallgrass prairies, oak woodlands, and pine savannas, were historically maintained by periodic fires. Without fire, many of these natural communities are invaded by undesirable plant species.
As a case in point, tallgrass prairies are open areas dominated by grasses and other flowering herbaceous plants. Prairies in Arkansas were historically maintained by periodic fires ignited by lightning strikes or Native Americans. The fires that would burn through these prairies inhibited the growth of trees and shrubs and favored prairie plants. However, throughout the 20th century, fire suppression policies all but eliminated fire as an ecological force from the landscape. The result being that fire-dependent natural communities declined due to the invasion of competing woody plants.
To restore these areas to their former condition requires reintroduction of carefully planned prescribed fires. For that reason, ANHC staff along with partners like The Nature Conservancy and Arkansas Forestry Commission, work together to conduct prescribed burns on natural areas containing fire-maintained ecosystems.
Invasive Species
Removal of invasive plant species
Ecological integrity of natural areas is also maintained through the detection and management of invasive species. In addition to providing habitat for native species, natural areas can also harbor non-native, invasive plants.
A large number of plant species have made their way into Arkansas from other countries, either accidentally or intentionally. Once here, many of these plants are freed from the insects and diseases that controlled them in their native range and tend to grow and reproduce unchecked.
Invasive plants such as kudzu, Japanese honeysuckle, Chinese tallow tree, and Chinese privet can aggressively spread over large areas, effectively out-competing and eliminating native species and the natural communities we strive to preserve.
Detection and removal of these invasive species is a critical component of stewardship activities if native species and their habitat are to be protected on natural areas. Invasive species are controlled through a variety of means including mechanical removal and the application of chemical herbicides.
