Formula Grant NI26RREAFXXXG036

PROJECT ABSTRACT FORM UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF FOREST MANAGEMENT EDUCATION FOR LANDOWNERS THIS EXTENSION EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM WILL ASSIST FOREST LANDOWNERS IN SECURING TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. MANY LANDOWNERS ARE UNAWARE OF THE FORESTRY SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THEM. THE ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'S (ADA) FORESTRY DIVISION PROVIDES FREE FORESTRY MANAGEMENT OR STEWARDSHIP PLANS TO PRODUCERS. THESE PLANS GENERALLY INCLUDE INSTALLING CONSERVATION PRACTICES (TREE PLANTING, FIREBREAKS, AND THINNING) THAT ARE NEEDED AS PART OF THE MANAGEMENT PLAN. THE NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRCS) OFFERS COST-SHARE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVE PROGRAM (EQIP) AND THE CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM (CSP), TO HELP OFFSET THE COSTS OF INSTALLING CONSERVATION PRACTICES. MANY LANDOWNERS ARE UNAWARE OF THESE NRCS PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. THIS EXTENSION PROGRAM WILL OFFER EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS TO INFORM FOREST LANDOWNERS ABOUT THE SERVICES AVAILABLE THROUGH ADA AND NRCS, AS WELL AS PROVIDE EDUCATION ON FOREST MANAGEMENT, WILDLIFE HABITAT MANAGEMENT, CARBON CREDITS, AND OTHER POTENTIAL USES FOR FORESTLAND. THIS PROGRAM WILL ALSO ASSIST FOREST LANDOWNERS IN ACCESSING ADA'S COUNTY FORESTERS. THESE COUNTY FORESTERS WILL ASSIST LANDOWNERS IN DEVELOPING FOREST MANAGEMENT PLANS OR FOREST STEWARDSHIP PLANS. THE LANDOWNERS WILL BE ASSISTED IN COMPLETING THE NRCS CONSERVATION AP PLICATION TO SECURE FUNDING FOR THE INSTALLATION OF CONSERVATION PRACTICES. IF A LANDOWNER IS FUNDED WITH A CONSERVATION CONTRACT, THE EXTENSION PROGRAM WILL ASSIST THEM IN FINDING A VENDOR TO INSTALL THE CONSERVATION PRACTICE. THREE (3) NEWS ARTICLES ON FORESTRY CONSERVATION PRACTICES WILL BE PUBLISHED TO HELP EDUCATE LANDOWNERS ABOUT FORESTRY CONSERVATION PRACTICES. THIS EXTENSION PROGRAM WILL DELIVER FOUR (4) EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS. WE ESTIMATE THAT ABOUT 300 LANDOWNERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE WORKSHOPS. THESE PARTICIPANTS WILL GAIN KNOWLEDGE ON THE STEPS NEEDED TO MANAGE THEIR FORESTLAND. THE EXTENSION PROGRAM WILL ASSIST TWO (2) LANDOWNERS INTERESTED IN ACCESSING THEIR COUNTY FORESTER TO OBTAIN FORESTRY PLANS FOR THEIR OPERATION. THESE TWO (2) LANDOWNERS WILL BE ASSISTED IN COMPLETING A CONSERVATION APPLICATION TO GET FUNDING TO INSTALL THE CONSERVATION PRACTICES RECOMMENDED IN THE PLAN. IF FUNDED, THE TWO (2) LANDOWNERS WILL BE ASSISTED IN IDENTIFYING VENDORS TO INSTALL THE CONSERVATION PRACTICES. THE PROGRAM'S BENEFICIARIES WILL BE SMALL, PRIVATE, NON-INDUSTRIAL FOREST LANDOWNERS.