Natural Resource Condition Assessment: Arkansas Post National Memorial

Jones, David; Cook, Roy; Sovell, John; Ley, Matt; Shepler, Hannah; Weinzimmer, David; Linares, Carlos

This Natural Resource Condition Assessment (NRCA) evaluates the status and trends of key natural resources at Arkansas Post National Memorial (ARPO), a small but ecologically significant unit of the U.S. National Park Service in southeastern Arkansas. The assessment synthesizes data collected primarily through 2019, to provide a snapshot of resource conditions and inform future management. The report examines nine focal resources, including landscape context (land cover/use, night skies, soundscape, and climate), chemical and physical environment (air quality), and biological components (vegetation, birds, bats, fish, and herpetofauna). ARPO is characterized by a rural, semi-natural landscape dominated by wetlands and agriculture, with limited connectivity to other protected areas. The park’s ecological integrity is challenged by landscape isolation, ongoing land conversion, invasive species, and climate change. Key findings indicate that while the park’s bird communities are in good condition and show increasing diversity, other biological resources such as bats and fish warrant significant concern due to low detection rates and limited monitoring. Vegetation communities are moderately healthy, with high native species composition but moderate floristic quality and vulnerability to invasive species, pests, and climate change. Air quality is a moderate concern, with issues related to ozone, nitrogen, and sulfur deposition, and poor visibility. Night sky quality is declining due to regional light pollution, while the soundscape remains relatively intact. The assessment highlights substantial data gaps, particularly for bats, fish, herpetofauna, and air quality, emphasizing the need for regular, systematic monitoring. Management recommendations focus on maintaining and enhancing habitat quality, controlling invasive species, adapting to climate change, and collaborating with regional partners to address landscape-scale stressors. ARPO plays a critical role as a conservation refuge in a heavily altered region and calls for adaptive, science-based stewardship to sustain its natural resources and ecological functions.

Natural Resource Condition Assessment: Arkansas Post National Memorial

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