Ecoregions/Natural Divisions of Arkansas
When ecologists first began considering that different parts of Arkansas have different characteristics, they called those areas "natural divisions." Today, that term is synonymous with "natural regions" and "ecoregions." We are proud that ANHC took the lead more than 30 years ago to produce materials to help teach about Arkansas. We continue to use and update these materials today, with programs, lessons plans, worksheets, and study and classroom guides.
NEW - Arkansas Natural Divisions Study Guide - 2020 UPDATE
This new guide highlights major components and unique characteristics of each natural division. It includes a Glossary of Terms and provides resources for further learning. This document is used in conjunction with the ANHC's educational program "Arkansas Ecoregions."
Arkansas Natural Divisions Study Guide (6581 KB)
Natural Divisions of Arkansas - A Classroom Guide
This is a fourth printing of one of the cornerstones of Arkansas’s natural history education. In addition to original text and illustrations, this edition includes a glossary, website resources, and correlations to state curriculum frameworks, along with information about the six natural communities from the ANHC poster series.
Natural Divisions - Text and Appendix (11818 KB)
Programs and Workshops
Both programs and workshops provide an overview of the six main natural divisions or regions of Arkansas (Ozarks, Ouachitas, Arkansas Valley, Coastal Plain, Mississippi Alluvial Plain, and Crowley’s Ridge). More in-depth programs are also available on each individual natural division.
Lesson Plans and Worksheets
Boom and Bust in the Ozark Forests (85 KB)
Comparing Populations Through Arkansas History Using the Five Themes of Geography (51 KB)
Crowley's Ridge (184 KB)
The Ouachita National Forest (289 KB)