Sign-ups Open for New (2025) Open Pine Landscape Restoration Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)
The USDA-NRCS and other partner conservation organizations are offering a great program for landowners interested in enhancing their private forestland for wildlife such as bobwhite quail, eastern wild turkey, and so much more. This program is called the AR-LA Open Pine Landscape Restoration RCPP and provides support for 8 south-central Arkansas counties and 8 north-central Louisiana parishes over the time span 2022-2027. A specific outreach focus is to ensure that historically underserved farmers and landowners participate meaningfully in the project.
This program has specifically chosen management practices including prescribed burning, forest stand improvement (reduction to <60 sq. ft./acre Basal Area), firebreaks, wildlife monitoring, and woodland/savanna restoration. Prescribed fire will help reduce undesirable woody species such as sweet gum, yaupon, elm and many more. Reducing the forest density through thinning and targeted chemical application allows more sunlight to hit the forest floor and encourages more native wildflowers and grasses. The restoration of these open pine habitats will provide the essential habitat for bobwhite quail, turkey, and many more species of wildlife to thrive and increase their populations.
Quail Forever, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and Arkansas Game & Fish Commission Biologists are equipped to write conservation management plans, help you fill out application information, and assist you along the management process. If you are interested in signing up for this program or would like more information, please contact the local biologist in your parish/county or your local NRCS office. Applications need to be signed and turned into a biologist or your local NRCS office by December 13th, 2024. To read more about this program, view or download the “AR LA CDN Open Pine Landscape Restoration” fact sheet here:
For assistance reaching out to your local biologist, please reach out to Austin Klais at (501) 425-1985 or aklais@abcbirds.org