Purdue Forestry & Natural Resources Whitepaper: Addressing Concerns About Management of Indiana’s Forests (FNR Whitepaper 2018-1-15)

The Indiana Forest Alliance has tried for many years to restrict active forest management on state forests. It has come to ISAF's attention that they are currently petitioning the Indiana legislature to set aside 24% (in specific tracts) of Indiana's state forests as wilderness-like areas to honor "Indiana's heritage". The bill that has been filed, Senate Bill 548, and is available here. The bill's author is Sen. Mark Stoops. The ISAF Executive Committee is in the process of considering sending a letter to the Senate Natural Resources Committee which will consider hearing the bill. As citizens and professionals, I encourage you to contact your state senator and let your views…

Marketing forestry is something every ISAF member should embrace. To meet this goal, Indiana SAF has developed several tools. We have a brochure on careers in forestry which are available to members who might be asked to speak to highschool classes or other groups. We have also developed two displays. One displays caters to careers in forestry. The other display is a tailgate size model for landowners and speaks to why they would want to hire a professional forester. This display has an accompanying brochure.   The Trees of Indiana is the latest marketing effort of the Indiana SAF. The cost of these bandanas is $3.25 each. They are an…

Indiana SAF Fellows have a strong commitment through direct SAF volunteer activities as well as through exemplary action, sustained leadership, and advancement of the forestry profession in the application of forestry, education, public policy, research, and/or technology transfer. See previous Indiana SAF Fellows on our Who We Are page.

According to the Indiana DNR, 19% of the state is in forest. This is the third largest land use. Number one is corn and number two is soybeans at about equal proportions. Together they make up about 50% of the state's area. That leaves about 20% for urban, suburban and industrial uses. Trees are important to Indiana.

Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service and Department of Forestry and Natural Resources has just released a new series of extension publications titled "A Landowners Guide to Sustainable Forestry in Indiana". The eight titles in the series cover a variety of topics interesting to forest landowners and their forest managers. The publications can be viewed online here. For ordering information, call 888.398.4636 or write Communications Media Distribution Center, 1187 Service Building, West Lafayette, IN, 47907-1187

The Directory of Professional Foresters compiled by the Indiana Forest and Woodland Owners Association is available. Large orders can be sent to Dan Ernst (dernst@dnr.in.gov) at the DNR Division of Forestry, 317.232.4105 or from Wendell Leedy (cblcwl@aol.com), at 317.881.1632. Single copies are available at local Soil and Water Offices or Division of Forestry offices.