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Plans are underway at the University of Arkansas at Monticello for the construction of the Arkansas Forest Health Research Center, which will be housed within the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources (CFANR) at the university.

In February 2024, the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration received approval to allocate $16.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to UAM for the construction of the center.

The research center will be located on the university’s Monticello campus between the University Police Station and the Fine Arts Center. UAM plans to host a groundbreaking ceremony on October 17, 2024, and construction will be completed by the summer of 2026.

 Forests in Arkansas support $16 billion of the state’s economy annually through wood products, tourism and hunting. However, increased threats to forest health from invasive pests, changing disease behaviors and climate stressors such as flooding and droughts pose risks to this important economic asset. Currently, Arkansas has no in-state facilities for testing forest diseases and insects. 

UAM, as a leader in forestry, allied health and agriculture workforce development in Arkansas, aims to serve the state to remedy this issue. The Arkansas Forest Health Research Center will be among the top facilities of its kind in the Southeast United States.

“Analyses for the center indicate that it will generate a $157 million annual economic benefit to Arkansas by protecting against lost values of trees and forest products and increasing the workforce for forestry, allied health, agriculture, wildlife and related fields. It’s truly exciting to serve our state in this way,” Dr. Michael Blazier, dean of CFANR at UAM and director of the Arkansas Forest Resources Center, said.

“This is a tremendous boost to the capacity of our College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources at UAM to protect the state’s forests,” Dr. Blazier said. “The Arkansas Forest Health Research Center will support all landowners and agencies in monitoring for forest health threats. It will be one of the leading facilities in the Southeast U.S. for researching and developing new ways to mitigate threats to our forests and urban trees and forestry, tourism and wildlife enterprises.”

He also noted the impact the center will have on the quality of labs for all UAM students, stating, “In addition, its biology and chemistry labs will be integrated into UAM undergraduate education, benefiting all UAM students, including those in natural sciences, allied health, agriculture, natural resources and other highly demanded career fields.”

Dr. Peggy Doss, chancellor of UAM, celebrated the significance of the center and thanked the political leaders who made it possible, stating, “The establishment of the Arkansas Forest Health Research Center is a historic milestone for UAM, Arkansas and the Southeast U.S. This state-of-the-art facility will enable cutting-edge research in forest health and management by fostering collaboration between academic researchers and industry professionals. I am deeply grateful for the tremendous support from Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders as well as Rep. Jeff Wardlaw, Sen. Ben Gilmore, Rep. Mike Holcomb, Sen. Matt Stone, Rep. Howard Beaty and the Arkansas Forestry Caucus. The Arkansas Forest Health Research Center is a testament to their vision and leadership, and it will have a positive impact on the industry and the environment for generations to come. The University of Arkansas at Monticello community is honored to be entrusted with the responsibility of the establishment of the research center at its institution and is committed to being a conscientious steward of the center.” 

For additional information on the Arkansas Forest Health Research Center, contact Dr. Michael Blazier at blazier@uamont.edu or 870-460-1152.