The Arkansas MAV Conservation Delivery Network (CDN) recently hosted its summer membership meeting in the central AR delta. The CDN meets twice annually, in the winter and summer, to provide a forum for conservation delivery professionals working in the region to share updates on important conservation priorities and actions, learn about current research, share updates on project outcomes, consider potential funding opportunities, collaborate, and network.

Each year the CDN’s steering committee identifies potential activities and topics that may be beneficial to the mission of the Network. The steering committee identified “Forest and Wetlands Stewardship” as a focus for 2023. CDN participants held an indoor meeting in February and benefited from a number of topical presentations including updates on the new Markets for Floodplain Reforestation program (TNC), as well as AGFC’s New Private Lands Habitat Division (AGFC), an FSA Conservation Program Overview (FSA), updates on Wetland Reserve Easement Stewardship (NRCS), results of First Thinning of Hardwood Plantations at Cache River NWR (USFWS), along with some specifics on Revitalizing WRE Restored Wetlands (DU) and WRE Wetland Stewardship (AGFC).

In early September, the topic was moved to the field. The CDN conducted a tour that included review and discussion of first entry forest thinning treatments of bottomland hardwood (BHW) plantations on Cache River National Wildlife Refuge (led by USFWS staff forester). The tour also included a visit to BHW plantation thinning on a private land tract near Des ARC (led by NWTF staff forester, working as shared capacity with NRCS). The CDN’s third and final stop was held further south, where the group learned more about reclamation and management of WRE shallow water wetlands on Hackberry Farm (AGFC staff wetlands biologist). Valuable information was shared and great discussion was had at both the winter meeting and summer field tour. Both events were well attended and considered very successful in achieving the objective for the topic. The event demonstrated the ongoing tangible benefits of the CDN, which could not exist without the support and participation of AR conservation delivery professionals.

AR MAV September Field Tour