The Hope Lions Club heard from Dr. Jennifer Ballard, Director of the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission on Monday (4-6). Dr. Ballard explained the background of the Heritage Commission and noted they are part of the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism. Dr. Ballard noted in the 1950’s the Nature Conservancy was formed. It is the largest conservation, non-governmental organization in the world. Dr. Ballard noted in the 1970’s the Nature Conservancy encouraged states to develop systems of natural areas. She noted much of the data needed for this conservation work was “buried” at universities and headquartered in a central place. The Nature Conservancy encouraged “heritage programs” where this information would be gathered in one place. In Arkansas, there was a grassroots initiative to establish such an agency in Arkansas and it was established in 1973 to handle these two ideas. She noted there’s a similar data management and heritage program in every state plus some additional ones. Altogether, there are 85 such natural heritage hubs around the world.
Dr. Ballard the NHC does three things no other agency does. These include managing natural areas, expertise in community and botanical ecology, and the heritage database. In Hempstead County, this includes the Nacatoch Ravines Natural Area and in Nevada County the Arkansas Oak Natural Area. She also talked quite a bit about the Miller County Sandhills Natural Area which is in extreme western Miller County.
Information about the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission can be found Arkansas Heritage website at arkansasheritage.com.
Dr. Ballard was introduced by Evening Lion John King .
