Flatside Wilderness Additions Act Will Benefit Wildlife, People in Arkansas
- Mary Jo Brooks
- May 13, 2025
DENVER — The will help safeguard wildlife species that depend on large undisturbed landscapes by adding 2,215 acres of U.S. Forest Service land to the Flatside Wilderness. The bill, sponsored by Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.), a longtime champion of this important ecosystem in central Arkansas, passed the U.S. House of Representatives on a voice vote.
“There are 380 species of wildlife that are at heightened risk of extinction in Arkansas. One of the best ways to reverse wildlife declines is by safeguarding habitat through measures like the Flatside Wilderness Additions Act,” said David Willms, associate vice president for public lands at the National Wildlife Federation. “Congress should build upon this legislation, which will help support the thriving outdoor recreation economy in the region, by strengthening federal investments in state wildlife-conservation efforts.”
"Designated wilderness areas provide undisturbed habitat to wildlife at a time when habitat loss is the leading cause of species decline,” said Terri Lane, executive director of the . “Arkansas Wildlife Federation appreciates Rep. Hill's long standing leadership in protecting the Flatside Wilderness Area and we strongly support the passage of the Flatside Wilderness Additions Act."
