Oklahoma will have its first official state forest after conservationists, wary of the development boom in parts of the Ouachita Mountains, turn over thousands of acres of woodlands in Pushmataha County.

The Conservation Fund, a nonprofit based in Arlington, Virginia, acquired swaths of forestland totaling 11,332 acres in remote, picturesque southeast Oklahoma, specifically to get it into state hands for protection. Details of the transaction were not disclosed.

The move comes in response to the increase in forestland being subdivided and developed "specifically by out-of-state second-home buyers" and investors, The Conservation Fund said. The rugged area is about 30 miles northwest of Hochatown, the epicenter for out-of-state investment in luxury vacation cabins treated as second homes.

The land is in the Round Mountain area 200 miles southeast of Oklahoma City, some 15 miles southwest of Honobia, known for the annual Honobia Bigfoot Festival. The seller was Nuveen Natural Capital, an investment division of Nuveen, the asset-management arm of TIAA, the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association.

The Conservation Fund will manage the forest until conveying it to the state

As interim owner, The Conservation Fund will work with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry to permanently conserve the forestland for eventual recreational access to support tourism, and future regional outdoor and recreational business.

The remote site also makes it ideal for a demonstration forest for invasive species studies and pest management, and a training ground for prescribed burns and forest fire management, the nonprofit said.

“It is gratifying to partner with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry to preserve this unique property,” said Ginny Moore, Oklahoma and Kansas representative of The Conservation Fund. “Establishing Oklahoma’s first state forest provides multiple benefits: supporting the region’s rural economy, enhancing recreational opportunities and providing space for outdoor enthusiasts who just want to enjoy the beauty of nature.”

During its interim ownership, The Conservation Fund will manage the property and work with the state to seek private, state and federal funding for its permanent conservation, including from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program, funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

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Oklahoma forests contribute billions to the state economy

“Oklahoma’s forests support an industry that annually contributes $5.1 billion to our economy, employs a workforce of over 19,000 people, and provides the forest products we need in our daily lives,” said Mark Goeller, state forester and director of Oklahoma Forestry Services. “Equally as important is our forest’s contribution to Oklahoma’s environmental health. Oklahoma’s forests many benefits include clean water, clean air and carbon sequestration. Acquisition of this land is a great opportunity to help sustain Oklahoma’s economic and environmental well-being.”

Eventual state ownership of the forestland is "truly a unique opportunity," said Craig Marquardt, forest management chief and assistant director for Oklahoma Forestry Services. “To be in a position to acquire these significant parcels of land and to be able to keep that land in working forests is one that does not come around often.

"These forested lands will provide timber, wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities for Oklahomans for generations to come."

The Conservation Fund says rapid development of Oklahoma forestland demanded action

The Conservation Fund said it prioritized the purchase, in the face of increased development in the area, through its Working Forest Fund, which is "dedicated to mitigating climate change, strengthening rural economies and protecting natural ecosystems through the permanent conservation of at-risk working forests."

Capital from the organization’s "green bonds" — dedicated to conservation in the United States — and bridge financing from the Richard King Mellon Foundation, no stranger to conservation in Oklahoma, funded the acquisition from Nuveen.

"These types of transactions are good for nature, climate and people, and it was a pleasure working with The Conservation Fund on this opportunity,” said Chris Lipton, head of timberland investments for Nuveen Natural Capital.

The Richard King Mellon Foundation previously made investments in Oklahoma to expand the Ouachita National Forest and the Washita Battlefield National Historic Site, noted foundation director Sam Reiman.

"Today, the foundation is pleased to support The Conservation Fund’s collaboration with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry to create Oklahoma’s inaugural state forest, providing for habitat conservation and sustainable timbering, while expanding public access for outdoor recreation” Reiman said.

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Here's what will be protected by Oklahoma state ownership of the Round Mountain conservation forest

Wildlife will be protected, according to The Conservation Fund:

"The Round Mountain Forest’s clear streams provide critical habitat for the federally threatened Leopard Darter, which can only be found in the streams of three Oklahoma rivers, including the Little River, which runs through the property. Other species of concern that would potentially benefit from conservation of this forest include multiple types of warblers and bats, the Rich Mountain slit‐mouthed snail, the Rich Mountain salamander and multiple plant species."

State ownership also will support the regional economy, the nonprofit said:

“The permanent protection of Round Mountain Forest as Oklahoma’s first state forest supports the two key economic drivers of southeastern Oklahoma’s economy: forestry and outdoor recreation/tourism.

"An Oklahoma State University 2018 study indicated that forestry had a direct economic impact of $2.9 billion and an estimated total economic impact of $4.5 billion annually while outdoor recreation contributes an estimated $4.3 billion to Oklahoma’s gross domestic product annually and supported over 44,000 jobs. While we don’t have specific numbers on the impact of this particular project yet, we hope to develop more now that we own the land.”

Recent development sparked the nonprofit's acquisition, but The Conservation Fund had its eye on Oklahoma forests for some time

The Round Mountain Forest presents a great opportunity for land protection, said Brian Dangler, senior vice president of The Conservation Fund.

“For several years, The Conservation Fund has been trying to secure the opportunity for the state to permanently protect public access to the Wildlife Management Area that is being threatened by land ownership changes and to potentially create a state forest," Dangler said. "Also, for several years, The Conservation Fund and Nuveen have been trying to find the right forests around the country on which to work together to capitalize on our organizational strengths for the benefit of conservation.

"When we learned that Nuveen was successful purchasing the Round Mountain property, we immediately reached out and started thinking together how we might secure a significant portion for permanent protection as a working forest. The Conservation Fund intends to work over time with willing sellers to conserve more land in this special area of the country and to secure permanent public access and connectivity at a landscape level.”

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Senior Business Writer Richard Mize has covered housing, construction, commercial real estate and related topics for the newspaper and Oklahoman.com since 1999. Contact him at rmize@oklahoman.com. Sign up for his weekly newsletter, Real Estate with Richard Mize.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: The Conservation Fund works with Oklahoma on first state forest