Arkansas Forests & Drinking Water Collaborative
· In May of 2015, 45 stakeholders from Arkansas’s forestry and drinking water sectors convened on Petit Jean Mountain at the first-ever Arkansas Forests and Drinking Water Forum. This forum explored the common interests of the two sectors, developed a deeper learning about the issues faced by each, and began building a network between these professionals. Since then these these two sectors have continued the dialogue and explored areas for collaboration, guided by the steering committee which was formed in 2016. · The Collaborative is a component of the Southeastern Partnership for Forests and Water, a cooperative effort of the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities. Current funding for the Arkansas Collaborative is through a Landscape Scale Restoration Grant from the U.S. Forest Service. This grant is part of a five-state effort including Arkansas, Texas, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina.

WHAT WE DO
SCOPE:
· Facilitate conservation and better management of forested watersheds within Arkansas to protect sources of public water supply.
STRATEGIES:
· Support and strengthen communication between the forest and water sectors,
· Increase collaboration between the forest and water sectors
· Facilitate development of local projects/programs
WHERE WE WORK: