You have until 12/17 to comment on the Indiana DNR Division of Forestry 2025-2029 Strategic Direction, the document that sets out the plan for our state forests for the next 5 years. 

CLICK HERE TO LEAVE PUBLIC COMMENT

In the past, we have expressed our support of the USFS vegetation management projects on the Hoosier National Forest, in particular the Houston South and Buffalo Springs project. You can read about that here: https://www.backcountryhunters.org/indiana_forests_healthy_management_for_biodiversity
 
We also support sound, science-based management of our state forests.

Included in this planning document are recommendations for increased use of prescribed fire, dedicating resources to improving habitat in our state forests, including timber harvests, and continued support for the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment research project, which looks at the impact of timber harvests on wildlife and forest health.  

As you likely know, the use of fire and timber harvests, though based in sound forest science and considered a best practice among experts, is controversial to some in our state. Opponents of science-based forest management will most definitely be commenting on this plan in an attempt to undermine science and the development of essential wildlife habitat. Those of us who support science-based forest management here in Indiana must also voice our support for the Division of Forestry's plans.
 
In the plan, there are a few things that are of specific interest to BHA members. These include:

• science-based wildlife and forest management is a central principle to the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation
• continued use of prescribed fire for vegetation management, including invasive removal, and additional funding for staff training
• oak restoration through timber harvests in our state forests, which is essential to wildlife who rely on young forests and specifically oak-hickory ecosystems, like the ruffed grouse, wild turkey, and white-tailed deer, not to mention non-game species
• continued support of the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment research project. You can learn more about that project here: https://heeforeststudy.org/project/
• continued funding for the archery range at Jackson-Washington State Forest archery range and Clark State Forest shooting range, an improved gun range for Clark State Forest and a new range at Morgan-Monroe State Forest
• improved campgrounds and trails at all state forests

Objective 1.9 mentions looking into general “improvement of facilities and development and implementation of entrance gates and/or pass system use for those accessing and utilizing State Forest facilities and recreational opportunities.” These kinds of improvements can be welcome, so long as the gating and fees do not interfere with hunting and fishing access and opportunities. A concern is that this fee structure would seek to replace proceeds from timber harvest, which is an essential management tool and source of revenue. 

You can provide your comment here:

https://in.accessgov.com/dnr/Forms/Page/forestry/strategic-direction-comment/0

You can find the "Strategic Direction" document here:

https://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/files/fo-State-Forest-Strategic-Plan-2025-2029.pdf

Below are some items of interest for BHA members from the strategic plan. You can mention these in your comments:

Fire Section 

Goal 1 “Increased Use of Prescribed Fire on Public and Private Forests.”

Objective 1.2 – Train more professionals to use prescribed fire on public lands.

Forest Resource Information Section

Goal 2 “Support sustainable forest management” on private and public lands.

State Forest Section

Indiana has 15 state forests managed under 10 administrative units. 

Goal 1 – “Actively and sustainably manage state forests for the citizens of Indiana."

Objective 1.1 “manage state forests with professional leadership in accordance with accepted scientific and forest certification standards for traditional and sustainable forest goods and services, including timber, wildlife habitat and historically or ecologically significant resources."

Objective 1.2 “Emphasis on oak restoration either through artificial or natural management processes.” 

Objective 1.4 “Invasive plant species management.” The use of herbicide and prescribed fire. 

Objective 1.5 “Continue to set systemwide harvest goals based on allowable and renewable growth levels based on the Division's continuous forest inventory (CFI) program.”

Goal 2 “Conserve and manage wildlife habitats, cultural resources, plant communities and high conservation value areas.” 

Objectives 2.1-2.6 are all great, but especially 2.6 “Continue to provide support for the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment research project.” 

State Forest Recreation

Goal #1 “Improve state forest recreation user experience by investing in infrastructure to bring water, wastewater treatment, camping sites, trails, lakes, and other related capital assets up to market expectations.”

1.2 – Improvements to campgrounds at Yellowwood, Ferdinand and Morgan-Monroe and improved gun range for Clark State Forest and a new range at Morgan-Monroe State Forest.

Objective 1.6 “Maintain the Jackson-Washington State Forest archery range and Clark State Forest shooting range; bring existing range up to appropriate standards for the facilities and evaluate the potential for additional facilities at other State Forests.” 

Objective 1.9 mentions looking into general “improvement of facilities and development and implementation of entrance gates and/or pass system use for those assessing and utilizing State Forest facilities and recreational opportunities.” These kinds of improvements can be welcome, so long as the gating and fees do not interfere with hunting and fishing access and opportunities. A concern is that this fee structure would seek to replace proceeds from timber harvest, which is an essential management tool and source of revenue. 

Forest Health Program – this is an essential program and your efforts to better understand forest health and threats to our state forests’ futures are based in science.