Forest Worker Spotlight: Clint Johnson

Uniting Passion and Purpose: Clint's Journey in Conservation and Land Management

Clint Johnson, with the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, grew up in Central Arkansas with a love for the outdoors and has been blessed to turn that passion into a career. He attended the University of Central Arkansas to earn a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and a master’s degree in biology, focusing on aquatic ecology. Clint worked his way from technician to private lands biologist, a position he held for 10 years before moving to quail program coordinator. Throughout his career, Clint has used forestry techniques, including commercial harvest, non-commercial harvest, herbicide and prescribed fire to restore and manage habitat for wildlife Species of Greatest Conservation Need in forests, woodlands, savannas and prairies all over the state. Today, Clint serves as technical support for AGFC's public and private lands staff, as well as partnering agencies, and plans projects and monitors their outcomes. As a frequent user of Arkansas' public lands and waters, Clint believes environmental stewardship and sustainable forestry are critical to protecting and enhancing our natural resources for the enjoyment of wildlife and people for generations to come.

"Out of all the wonderful aspects of my job, I think my favorite is how land management brings together people that otherwise wouldn't get along,” Clint said. “I've seen animal rights activists, hunters, hikers, foresters, farmers, businessmen, wildlife biologists, botanists and wildland firefighters from every agency, non-profit and private corporation that you can imagine come together to do the right thing for the resource. Good land management can't be boiled down to just game species management, ecological restoration, forestry or any other label you want to give it. Good management should take care of the whole ecosystem, no matter what part of it is most important to you."