Arkansas Wildlife Habitat Boosted by Record Landowner Conservation Funds

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) has announced significant progress and funding updates for its Conservation Incentive Program (CIP), aimed at enhancing wildlife habitats on privately owned lands. During its July meeting, the AGFC provided an overview of the program, which was launched in 2024 with $3.5 million in pilot funding and has become a vital tool for environmental stewardship in the state.

“More than 85 percent of the land in Arkansas is privately owned,” said Garrick Dugger, chief of the AGFC Private Lands Habitat Division. “Private land practices are the key to improving wildlife at the population level.”

Since its inception, the CIP has approved over 16,000 acres of habitat improvements through cost-sharing practices such as prescribed burns, forest thinning, wetland management, and feral hog trapping. In its initial year alone, 585 applications were funded out of nearly 1,600 submissions, highlighting the extensive need for assistance among Arkansas landowners.

In 2025, with the pilot year behind them, the AGFC faced constraints on dedicated state funding but secured a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Forest Service to continue the program. This second iteration, dubbed “CIP 2.0,” focused on three forestry-specific practices: invasive tree removal, forest thinning, and prescribed fire management. Landowners were selected through a competitive application process prioritizing conservation opportunity areas, forest priority zones, and underserved communities.

Michelle Furr, the AGFC’s CIP coordinator, reported overwhelming demand for the program in its second year. “In two application periods totaling 38 days, we received 1,129 submissions with more than $12 million in cost-share requests,” Furr said. By August 1, the AGFC had completed the allocation of $2.5 million in grant funding, along with an additional $600,000 for firebreak-related projects. Altogether, these efforts have enhanced 20,000 acres through prescribed burns, removed invasive trees on 629 acres, improved timber stands across 6,900 acres, and established 91 miles of critical firebreaks.

Looking ahead, the AGFC is preparing for another round of the program, made possible by a $5 million commitment secured through support from the Governor’s Office and the Arkansas General Assembly. This marks the largest funding allocation since the program began. With eight initial practices eligible for cost-sharing, including feral hog trap reimbursements, officials aim to start ranking applications in August and September to accelerate project timelines once funds are available.

AGFC Chairman Rob Finley praised the program's evolution, noting improvements such as adopting a competitive application ranking system. “It’s so neat to know where we were three years ago and to see where we’re at now,” he said.

Beyond the current funding, the AGFC is pursuing additional support through the USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program. If successful, the partnership could double available resources, amplifying the reach and impact of habitat improvements statewide. Furr emphasizes the importance of long-term project funding, saying, “We hope to use any unspent funds as required cash contributions, turning those funds into a force multiplier for long-term impact.”

For Arkansas landowners interested in participating, applications for certain practices within the CIP will open soon, offering another opportunity to improve wildlife habitats while fostering environmental sustainability on private lands.