The UCA Board of Trustees voted to protect more than 17 acres of the Jewel Moore Nature Reserve from development for the next five years during its December meeting.
Steven Runge, dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, requested the board pass a resolution that would permanently protect 17.5 acres on the southwest corner of the campus as a nature reserve. Runge said the status would also make it easier for the college to secure grants. The college has had some success in obtaining grants to help with ecological restoration of some portions of the reserve.
“But, we have been restricted and limited because the university has not made a commitment to preserve the area,” Runge said.
Runge’s request called for a permanent conservation easement for environmental, scientific and educational uses. The college would work with the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission in preservation efforts. The existing nature reserve and trail is approximately 22 acres. It is the last remnants of 250,000-acre prairie land that was part of the Louisiana Purchase, according to Runge.
“We have a very unique feature on campus,” he said.
More than 200 species of plants have been documented in the reserve. Researchers have not cateloged animals.
“We have only scratched the surface of species,” Runge said.
More than 2,500 students use the outdoor lab each year.
Trustees acknowledged the importance of the reserve, but had difficulty approving a permanent easement. Future board of trustees would not have the authority to use the land for other reasons.
Trustee Kay Hinkle said the land is a value piece of property for the university.
“I think we should preserve it as long as we can, but to say forever is a stretch for me,” she said. “None of us can predict the future.”