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The Buffalo River Stewardship Foundation (BRSF) is a non-profit corporation dedicated to protecting the watershed of the Buffalo River. The Buffalo watershed includes America's first National River, a park established in 1972 on the centennial of the establishment of Yellowstone as America's first National Park. The Buffalo is located in Northwest Arkansas and its watershed comprises approximately 864,000 acres. John Ricketts' book review summarizes the river's history.
The Buffalo watershed, beyond being an important wildlife habitat and a significant recreational site, is also one of America's most wild and scenic waterways. The Buffalo holds a special place in the hearts of Arkansans, and its beauty affects all who visit. Jimmy Driftwood's lyrics capture some of the feelings Arkansans have for the Buffalo.
The beauty and pristineness of the Buffalo River are threatened today by economic development in the surrounding watershed. Forestry, cattle ranching, and farming are the mainstay of the region's economy, but these same activities constitute the major source of pollution and water quality degradation. Several Steward articles describe how three government agencies in the watershed are dealing with the problems of development in an environmentally sensitive region. Other articles address how the BRSF proposes a "sustainable development" solution to the problem.
The BRSF is committed to finding realistic and equitable solutions to the watershed's current and future problems. One of the most difficult aspects of advocating and implementing protection strategies in this particular watershed is the distrust and strong resentment of outsiders, of environmentalists, and of the government. The BRSF overcomes these obstacles by selecting policies and programs that work with the local communities and avoid entrenched opposition to conservation.
We have specifically designed and tailored our programs to meet the situation in the Buffalo River watershed. We work with local farmers and landowners, corporations, state and federal agencies, and environmental groups, to bring a cooperative non-political effort to the watershed. We are an organization of inclusion and this entails taking a moderate tone; our position is intentionally between ardent environmentalism and unregulated development.
We are currently working to establish a voluntary "Watershed Council." Its goal is to bring together at one table federal and state agencies active in the watershed, the county judges, and all the relevant special interest groups.
Our first meeting included the directors and leadership of all seven relevant federal and state agencies, and a representative from the Governor's office. We gave a presentation on watershed management and specifics of how a watershed council works. The meeting lasted two hours longer than expected, and participants agreed that the Watershed Council would help the agencies better coordinate their activities, and better inform the public.
We are currently working with the National Park Service, Winrock International, the US Natural Resource Conservation Service, and representatives of the agriculture industry to set up the second meeting, which would include all relevant parties. The Watershed Council will include representatives of private companies as well, since partnerships with the private sector is an important goal. The Watershed Council is a vehicle to develop mutually agreeable protection strategies that have the best chance of full implementation, and have the greatest agreement (and hence compliance) from local private persons. Upcoming issues of The Steward will detail the results of the meeting and will detail the Watershed Council's plan of action.
The most environmentally sensitive acreage in the Buffalo watershed is land which borders waterways and has a steep slope. Ensuring that that acreage stays forested, and stays free of cattle, could dramatically decrease manure runoff, soil erosion, and the river's pollution level in general. The BRSF's main purpose is to serve as a "land bank." The BRSF will offer to purchase parcels of land which are environmentally sensitive and ecologically important. Removing those parcels from the market will prevent them from being deforested or cleared for pasture. BRSF is using the Nature Conservancy (which purchases large conservation easements in the US and abroad) as a model for how to administer the land. Tim O'Reilly's article on page 3 details the BRSF conservation easement program, and our easement contract appears on page 20.
The funds for purchasing conservation easements come from membership dues, corporate donations, and we are always seeking other sources of funding. We also expect significant donations of land and money from conservation-minded individuals in the watershed and the surrounding regions. If you are interested in becoming a member of the BRSF or in contributing land, money, or time, use our membership form on the back cover. We pledge that all dues and donations will go directly to land protection and none to administrative expenses nor overhead.
We are conducting ongoing analyses of the various policy options in the watershed and their relative economic costs both to conservationists and to the local communities. Using quantitative analysis we have been able to determine what we believe to be the most economical solution to the problems of the Buffalo River. We are continuing to refine our economic analysis as new data becomes available. A summary of our preliminary economic report appears in this issue of The Steward.
FILM PROJECT AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
James Nash Alford is the BRSF's Director of Communication and Education, and an internationally recognized film director who has been seen on "Nova" and BBC programming. Mr. Alford is a native of Arkansas and has recently returned from Africa where he lived for ten years. He will be producing several nature documentaries on the Ozark Mountains and the Buffalo River. These films will draw attention to the Buffalo's problems and diverse ecosystems. While his film project will be separately financed from the BRSF, our personnel will assist in the project and will be highlighted in his films.
Additionally, smaller film projects are planned which will emphasize "Best Management Practices" in the watershed. These films will be produced on VHS videotapes and will be distributed free of charge to landowners. Details of our film projects will be featured in upcoming issues of The Steward, and videotapes will be made available to BRSF members.
The Buffalo River Stewardship Foundation is a non-profit organization and hence all donations are tax-deductible. We encourage anyone interested in the fate of the Buffalo River to join our organization, which entitles you to receive future issues of The Steward and to participate in meetings of the Watershed Council and the Stewardship Foundation.. Please contact any of our staff for further information. Welcome!
Timothy Jones is the Executive Director of the Stewardship Foundation and a graduate of the University of Arkansas Law School at Fayetteville. He is a long-time resident of Harrison, Boone County.