Landowner Resources

Eighty percent of the land in Arkansas is privately owned, and the land management decisions of landowners impact pollinators. Arkansas’s private landowners and agricultural producers can create and enhance high-quality habitat on their property. Federal and state cost-share programs are available to provide financial assistance for some practices.

Staff from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC), Quail Forever, and Partners for Fish and Wildlife (USFWS) work with landowners to develop conservation plans specific to the landowners’ objectives and provide free technical assistance. Each plan focuses on monarch and pollinator habitat management and is tailored to the property. These plans provide a roadmap for how to use a system of conservation practices to meet natural resource and production goals.

Your local biologist can also provide a 100% native seed mix that is appropriate for where you are located in the state and a list of native seed vendors that you can contact for price quotes. Please contact your local biologist before you order seed for your project so they can help you ensure that all of the species in the mix are native to Arkansas.

Landowners who are interested in establishing monarch and pollinator habitat, native grazing, forest management, or learning about what they can do on their property to create habitat should reach out to one of the agencies or organizations below for free technical assistance.

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) (opens new window)

Contact your local NRCS field office for free technical assistance and to learn what federal Farm Bill programs you may be eligible for to implement beneficial practices for monarchs, pollinators, and other wildlife.

Quail Forever (opens new window)

In partnership with NRCS and AGFC, Quail Forever employs field biologists (Farm Bill Biologists) throughout the state to provide free technical assistance. Their field biologist program is designed to assist farmers, landowners and the general public about the economic benefits of conservation programs, as well as delivering habitat programs that benefit pollinators and other wildlife. They call it the "One Stop Shop" for anything conservation and wildlife related on private and public lands.

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (opens new window)

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has Private Lands Biologists that provide free technical assistance to landowners and houses the Acres for Wildlife (AFW) program. Acres for Wildlife is a free environmental action program of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission which targets all wildlife species and gives special emphasis on species of greatest conservation concern. It improves habitat and encourages landowners to consider wildlife in conjunction with good farming, livestock production, and forestry practices. The program does not retire cropland or grazing land, nor does it open “posted” land to hunters. This is left entirely to the discretion of the owner.

Arkansas Department of Agriculture - Forestry Division (opens new window)

In Arkansas, 56% of the state is forested, and 67% of that is non-industrial private landowners. As such, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture - Forestry Division offers landowners a variety of technical assistance in forest management, free of charge upon request. County Foresters are trained to work with partners to better assist landowners toward their management goals. County Foresters can provide information on practices with the purpose of restoring or enhancing forested ecosystems that may include: planting, forest stand improvement, prescribed burning, and best management practices for water quality. Many of these practices that improve forest health also inherently improve pollinator habitat.

Partners for Fish and Wildlife (opens new window)

The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program provides technical and financial assistance to private landowners interested in restoring and enhancing wildlife habitat on their land. Emphasis goes to projects with the potential to provide habitat for rare, threatened and endangered species; migratory birds and fish; and at-risk species. Projects are custom-designed and tailored to meet landowners’ needs and objectives.