The Forest Defender Spring 2013 Compiled and Edited By: Audrey Moore, IFA Coordinator From the Executive Director creased 400% (see Table 1, on page 3). Hickory Communities On the I am hon- Trees are being cut down in the state State Forest System, December 2008). ored to re- forests somewhere on every major At this rate, every section of our state port to you ridge, in every watershed and virtually forests will be intensively logged, by as the new every valley. Logging is opening up the selective cutting or clear cutting, with- Executive Di- deepest reaches of these forests with in 20 years. rector of the extensive networks of gravel roads and The state has made a mockery out of Indiana For- skidder trails. The skidders are drag- any objective scientific analysis of the est Alliance, ging trees up steep slopes scraping the impacts of this cutting to wildlife, such effective in forest floor down to bare soil. Many as the federally endangered Indiana January of this year. In my new role, I trees have been left horribly ripped and gray bats, Allegheny woodrat, hope to help expand our base of sup- and disfigured. The publicized dam- cerulean warbler, timber rattlesnake, port across all of Indiana, building IFA age by a tornado to Clark State Forest green salamander, hellbender and into a stronger force that never relents is comparable to what the DOF has just countless other “species of special from the job of protecting our public done to Miller Ridge in Yellowwood concern” that are rare in this state and forests. State Forest, where a hiker might eas- depend on contiguous forests to sur- This effort comes none too soon. The ily think a tornado had crossed back vive. DOF assumes in its Environmen- Division of Forestry (DOF) within the and forth over the ridge for weeks. In tal Analysis for this timber program Indiana Department of Natural Re- addition to burning 2,000 acres each that natural forests do not regenerate sources has increased timbering in year, DOF is trying to timber 8,000 and that without this aggressive cut- our state forests by nearly a thousand acres of state forest every year under ting, deep forest wildlife will disappear percent since 2002, selling 14.2 million its Strategic Plan (IDNR, Indiana State as the forests shift from oak-hickory to board feet off the State Forests in 2012 Forests: Environmental Assesments other forest types. The DOF has done compared to 1.4 million board feet in 2008 – 2027, Increased Emphasis on no analysis of whether any of our na- 2002. Since 2005, timbering has in- Management & Sustainability of Oak- tive tree species, other than oak and

It is the Mission of the In This Issue Indiana Forest Alliance to: A WORD FROM THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 1. Protect public forests in Indi- ana to preserve natural diversity page 1 and native wildlife that depend on deep forest; STATE OF THE STATE FOR- ESTS 2. Protect water quality; page 2 CURRENT ISSUES 3. Provide dispersed recreation page 6-7 opportunities on public forest land; BIRDS AND BIODIVERSITY 4. Hold government agencies page 8 accountable to state and federal laws pertaining to public forests; HONORING THE WILD page 10 5. Encourage responsible, sus- tainable, and profitable timber UPDATES management on private land. page 12-13 , 2004, Source: Drew Laird. Drew 2004, Source: Forest, State Yellowwood 1 hickory, provides ecological benefits to will require those of us who care about call him. Repeat this step with your Indiana, announced a new kind, most often what the wildlife and has even failed to docu- Indiana’s forests to get political, to state legislators. They need to know Draft Strategic Plan for In- state calls a “single-tree” or ment that current cutting is actually recognize that the actions of the DOF that Hoosiers want our state forests diana’s state forests, which “group-selection” harvest. In increasing regeneration of the favored reflect the wishes of the Governor. managed for values that we cannot de- called for a fourfold increase order to meet their goal of 14 oak and hickory. Accordingly, Governor Pence’s phone pend upon private forests to provide: in logging in our state forests; million board feet per year, Rather than science, the state’s deci- needs to be ringing off the hook over the preservation of large, wild, old, in- since then, these forests have the Division of Forestry is sion to dramatically increase timbering this issue increasingly day by day. Start tact forests and the creatures that de- been under an unprecedent- performing these “selective” in our state forests was driven by poli- by calling Governor Pence yourself, at pend upon them. ed assault. In 2012, for the harvests throughout the en- tics. Likewise, changing that decision 317-232-4567. Then urge others to - Jeff Stant, Indianapolis, April, 2013 second year in a row, more tire state forest system, cre- than fourteen million board ating a landscape-scale un- feet of timber was sold from even-aged forest, leaving no state forests, compared with areas uncut and ignoring rec- about 1.4 million board feet ommendations of the state’s The State of the State Forests in 2002 and 3.5 million board Division of Fish and Wildlife. feet in 2004. See Table 1 for And while there may be an On a sunny day in early February, Forests, have been closed since at least as that section of Yellowwood is sched- TABLE 1. Volume of timber sold from Indiana’s state forests each the volume of timber sold year since 2001 (Data Source: DNR, 2013). old tree here or there that while on a short hike along a section the Summer of 2012. While some sec- uled to be sold for timber in the spring from Indiana’s state forests has managed to escape the and the Division of Forestry is all too of the Tecumseh Trail just south of tions of the KT were severely damaged of 2013. each year since 2001. chainsaw and grow into full maturity, happy to oblige in creating these habi- Crooked Creek Lake in Yellowwood by tornadoes in the Spring of 2012, All this calls into question the Division The decision to increase logging by these outliers do not qualify as the sort tats—there is another side of the for- State Forest, I accidentally stumbled other large segments that escaped the of Forestry’s assertion of a “mixed- such a degree was, according to Gov- of uncut and over mature areas recom- est management recommendations upon the scarred landscape of a recent storm relatively unscathed have been use” management strategy, which ernor Daniels and company, rooted mended by Mr. Salmon’s Division. from the Indiana DNR Division of Fish timber harvest. closed for “emergency salvage” logging claims that our state forests are man- in both economic and environmental In addition to these “selective”- har and Wildlife that has been largely ne- Just a few weeks later, a friend and I operations, such as the first section of aged for the benefit of recreation and considerations. While the claims of the vests, management recommendations glected. In a letter sent to State - For hiked the Rock Shelter Trail in Morgan- the trail that runs along the west side habitat diversity, along with timber economic benefits of logging our state made for a tract will often include ester John Seifert on September 1, Monroe State Forest which, unbe- of Deam Lake. production. As we will explore, the lat- forests at an unprecedented rate are “regenerative openings.” Simply put, 2005, from the Director of the Division knownst to us at the time, skirted the Horse Trail D—a popular horse trail in ter of these has taken precedent at the somewhat dubious, the assertion that regenerative opening is a euphemism of Fish and Wildlife Glen Salmon, sci- edge of an active timber harvest, the Yellowwood State Forest—was closed expense of the others. the environment is improved by this for clearcut. Although the Division of entists from Salmon’s division recom- last leg of the trail apparently doubling through much of 2012 and into 2013 If it seems as though every ridge in gross expansion of logging is flat-out Forestry officially defines clearcuts mend that 10% of woodlands man- as the logging road. due to logging activity in that state our state forest system is being logged, wrong. The construction of new logging as clearings of ten acres or more, re- aged by the Division of Forestry be left The March edition of our Second Sun- forest. That particular harvest scalped you wouldn’t be far off. In 2005, then- roads and the reconstruction of long- generative openings of seven, eight or as “uncut and over mature areas,” with day Slow Saunter Series took us to the an area of Miller Ridge due east of Governor Mitch Daniels, flanked by abandoned roads to accommodate nine acres are common. the remainder cut on an 80- to 100- Jackson-Washington State Forest Back Crooked Creek Lake, leaving behind a Division of Forestry officials and- en heavy equipment and logging trucks In response to criticisms of their for- year rotation, using a combination of Country Area. We made our own loop, twisted mess that would make a small dorsed by the Nature Conservancy of have dissected our public forests, cre- est management practices, the Divi- even and uneven-aged systems. That initially following the Knobstone Trail tornado ating a virtual red carpet for invasive sion of Forestry will often boast of letter later states that “even on state- east from Delaney Park, then turning blush. species. Skidder trails snake through their “green” certifications awarded by managed lands, some areas should be north to dip down into Mandy Hollow, In addition the forests, lined with trees whose the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) protected from timber harvest in order where we were met with the ubiqui- to the afore- bark has been torn off by logs being and the Forestry Stewardship Council to provide examples for scientific study tous blue spray paint marking trees mentioned dragged to the logging yard, where (FSC). Despite claims made by these and for the enjoyment of future gen- slated to be logged. harvest they will be loaded onto 18-wheelers organizations and the Division of For- erations.” Does this sound familiar to you? If along the and shipped to a sawmill. Large gravel estry itself, the standards of certifica- For management purposes, each you frequent any of the twelve state Tecumseh, brought in to stabilize these roads and tion for either of these groups is hardly of Indiana’s state forests are divided forests in Indiana, coming upon active- a section of yards gets driven into the ground by rigorous. SFI was founded in 1994 by into many compartments and each of ly or recently logged areas undoubt- the trail on the heavy traffic of trucks and skidders, the American Forest and Paper Associ- these compartments is divided into edly is an all too familiar experience. Scarce O’ Fat creating a serious impediment to any ation, only to break off as an “indepen- several tracts. On average, these tracts Several of the most popular horse and Ridge about hopes of forest regeneration. dent” non-profit in 2001. Moreover, at are cut on a 20-year rotation. At the hiking trails have been closed, either in 1 ½ miles According to the Division of Forestry, least half of SFI’s board of directors has end of each of these management sections or entirely, due to active tim- west of Yel- timber harvests are conducted in a direct ties to the same timber and pa- cycles, a forester takes an inventory of ber harvests in recent years. lowwood way that promotes habitat diversity. per industries it claims to monitor. FSC the tract and makes recommendations Large sections of the Knobstone Trail Lake will like- Specifically, the state forests are man- has enjoyed a marginally better repu- for the tract’s management. These rec- (KT), which winds through and over ly be closed aged to create more “early succession” tation than its chief counterpart in the ommendations almost always call for the unique and dramatic terrain of the in the very Logging operations alongside the Deam Lake in the Clark State Forest in habitat. While some species certainly world of “green” certifications for tim- a commercial timber harvest of some Clark and Jackson-Washington State near future, January 2013. Photo by Myke Luurtsema. do thrive in early succession forests— ber management, but that reputation 2 3 timber management, but that repu- habitat of the Indiana bat. Some of Forestry and State Forester John Seif- dotes of what state forests mean to tation took a serious blow when FSC these guidelines include: ert, and then-Governor Mitch Daniels. (For more on the Morgan- you, and the importance of their pro- awarded its certification to Green 1. At least 60% canopy cover shall be Monroe BCA, see page 7) tection. Diamond Resource Company, the no- maintained after any timber harvest (For more details on the 4. Finally, join the Indiana Forest Al- torious clearcutter of old-growth red- activities. liance. Become part of a statewide If left alone, these BCAs will grow into woods in California. 2. Shagbark hickory or shellbark Indiana Bat, see page 6) movement to fight for the protection the mature, old-growth forests called Perhaps the most concerning aspect hickory trees shall not be harvested or of our natural heritage. In a time when the continued- ex for by the Division of Fish and Wildlife, of current forest management prac- manipulated during timber stand im- We at the Indiana Forest Alliance cer- istence of the Indiana bat is under the same deep, wild, and undisturbed tices in Indiana’s state forests is the provement (TSI) activities, unless the tainly have our work cut out for us, but such tremendous threats as the white forests that—if left to their own- de Division of Forestry’s disregard for the combined density of these species ex- we find inspiration in each conversa- nose syndrome, our state government vices—will grow into some of the most federally endangered Indiana bat. ceeds 16 trees/acre. If present, at least tion with a passerby on a trail, each should be doing everything within its diverse forests in North America. Un- Several other state and federally en- 16 live shagbark and shellbark hickory letter of encouragement from a fellow authority to protect the endangered fortunately, as of November of 2012, dangered species find habitat in (combined) >11” diameter breast forest-lover and, all the support we re- species. Instead, the Division of Forest- all three BCAs have been logged since the deep forests of Indiana, height (dbh) must be maintained per ceive from our members. ry continues to log what precious little their establishment, and they con- including the gray bat, east- acre. habitat the Indiana bat has left. The In- tinue to be logged. The Indiana Forest ern hellbender, Allegheny 3. No timber harvest or TSI activities For those last rays of sunset that illu- diana Forest Alliance is calling for full Alliance believes that all three BCAs woodrat, timber rattle- shall occur within 100 feet of a peren- minate the sycamores, compliance with the forest manage- should be permanently protected from snake, cerulean war- nial stream or within 50 feet of an in- Myke Luurtsema ment guidelines issued by the USFWS. logging, commercial or otherwise. bler and others, but termittent stream. Coordinator, Hoosier Forest Watch A rallying point for many of the is- The total area of all three state BCAs the Indiana bat takes 4. No felling of trees >3” dbh while In- sues discussed thus far has been the comprise about 5% of land owned and special concern, as diana bats may be present from April Back Country Area (BCA) of Morgan- managed by the Division of Forestry. half of the entire 1st through September 30th (i.e., Monroe and Yellowwood State For- Compare that to the more than 30% Indiana bat popu- trees may be felled from October 1st ests. There are three BCAs in Indiana’s of US Forest Service land designated as lation left in the through March 31st). state forest system, with the other Federal Wilderness Areas. (USFS Infor- world lives in the Further guidelines prohibit the har- two residing in Clark State Forest and mation Office) If the US Forest Service, caves and deep vest of trees that have “high value as Jackson-Washington State Forest. All with its own contentious history of log- forests of south- potential Indiana bat maternity roost three BCAs were established in the late ging public lands, can accommodate ern Indiana. The trees.” (USFWS, Bloomington Field Of- 1970s or the early 1980s for “Hoosiers 30% of its land to remain off limits to species’ popula- fice) and out-of-state visitors looking for a timber management, then perma- tion has been State Forester John Seifert responded primitive-type experience in Indiana,” nent protection of the 5% of state for- in steep decline to these guidelines with slight adjust- according to then-Director of the IDNR est land currently designated as Back for decades, ments, but it doesn’t take a profession- Jim Ridenour in a July 30, 1981 press Country should not be controversial, and the threat al forester or wildlife biologist to see release announcing the establishment but in fact obvious to those who tru- to their recovery that the Division of Forestry has largely of the Morgan-Monroe/Yellowwood ly care about the preservation of our has been ampli- ignored them. To give two brief exam- BCA. It states that “the State designa- public lands. fied by the white ples: it is rare for 60% of the forest can- tion of ‘Back Country’ is similar to the nose syndrome, opy to remain after many of the timber Federal Wilderness Area designation, which is wip- harvests that happen in our state for- but we think our program more near- Here’s what you can do to help the ing out cave-dwelling ests. Secondly, the sound of chainsaws ly fits the needs of Hoosiers.” There Indiana Forest Alliance accomplish our bats by the tens of thousands. cutting into trees is a familiar one for are some major distinctions between goals: Maintaining deep, wild, and ma- those who frequent our state forests Federal Wilderness Areas and state 1. Call your state legislators and ex- ture forests where female Indiana during the summer months (when BCAs. While horses are prohibited in press your support for the protection bats can rely on stands of ma- logging is prohibited). Last summer the BCAs, some timber management of Indiana’s state forests, specifically ture hickories, white oaks, sugar alone we documented active harvests is allowed, although, according to that the Back Country Areas of Morgan- maples, ashes, and other species, throughout Morgan-Monroe, Yellow- same press release from 1981, “The Monroe/Yellowwood, Clark, and Jack- as well as multiple standing snags wood, and Clark State Forests. These management of timber resources son-Washington State Forests. to raise their young in “maternity and other violations of the USFWS within the Back Country will be com- 2. Call Governor Pence and tell him roosts”, has become crucial to the guidelines for protection of the Indiana patible with all other uses permitted.” your story of walking on the Knobstone Indiana bat’s survival given its loss- bat under the federal Endangered Spe- It is our position that commercial tim- or Tecumseh trails, and describe that es from white nose syndrome. cies Act provide the foundation for the ber harvests, with the accompanying feeling you get when you encounter a In fact, the US Fish and Wildlife Notice of Intent to Sue that was filed skidder trails and logging yards, are recent logging site. Service (USFWS) Bloomington in July, 2012 by the Indiana Forest Al- inherently incompatible with a “primi- 3. Write letters-to-the-editors of your Field Office has issued forest man- liance against the Indiana Department tive experience.” local newspapers with personal anec-

agement guidelines to protect the of Natural Resources, the Division of Luurtsema Myke 2013. Source: Forest, National Hoosier Creek, Panther at Luurtsema Myke FW Coordinator H 4 5 6 derson/Madison County Corpora and isbeing promoted by theAn politics. Theplanwas conceived regulatory reviews, andofcourse, sive periodofpublicconsultations, infancy andissubjectto an exten three years, theplan isstill inits in theplanningstages for about Though “Project Oasis”hasbeen release announcingtheirplans. Anderson, Indiana,issuedanews reservoir ontheWhite River in proposal to buildanew damand On March 13 tion at Commu at Reservoir Mounds Lake out flyers forCoali the Riverof the Heart Member hands Bookwalter Board Mary Mounds Lake Reservoir? Mounds Lake Source: Don Herald Knight, Bulletin nity Discussion. th , supporters of a

Ind Ridge,Miller Yellowwood State Forest, 2013.Source: Jeff Stant. iana bat changed theIndiana Bat’s Recovery Potential inthat from plan, “High” stating:to “Low” ate future because ofarapid population declineorhabitat destruction. TheUSFWS hasalso diana Bat (2009).TheHighcategory meansthat extinction isalmost certain intheimmedi forThreat” theIndianaBat from “Moderate” to “High”inits5Year Recovery Plan for theIn tered withsmallbones.Asaresult ofthisdisease,theUSFWS changed the“Degree of emptying caves that onceharbored thousandsofbats andleaving behind cave floors lit Bat hibernaculainIndiana.Inaffected bat colonies, mortality has reached nearly100%, The USFWS andIDNRadmitthat white nosesyndrome hasbeenfound inmultipleIndiana bats, includingapproximately 25,000IndianaBats, have diedfrom white nosesyndrome. --Jeff Stant, 2013 IFA’s NoticeofIntent Sue (NOI) explains that since2011 at least onemillion cave-dwelling son, ESQ, July26,2012) son, ESQ, have very limited abilityto alleviate thisthreat. (NoticeofIntent to Sue,MickGHarri recoveryhave potential, a“low” because WNSispoorlyunderstood and we currently niques hadahighprobability now considers ofsuccess).TheService theIndianaBat to well understood andintensive management was notneededand/or recovery tech a “high”recovery potential (i.e.,biological/ecological limiting factors andthreats were Prior to emergence oftheWNSthreat, considered the Service theIndianaBat to have - - - - - and environmental advocates was roots coalition ofoutdoor recreation In response to thisproposal, agrass state. takes 10,000years to form) inthe threatened geological feature that ing oneofonlythree endangered Indianabat anddestroy other species,includingthefederally habitat for aquatic life, birds, and causing irreparable devastation to riparian zone alongtheWhite River, least seven milesand2,200acres of If built,thereservoir would flood at tion for Economic Development. Miller Ridge, Yellowwood Ridge, Miller State Forest, 2013.Source: Jeff Stant. fens (a globally - - toast.net Kahlo ofIndianapolisat For more information, contact Clarke Mounds.Lake.Reservoir www.facebook.com/Those.Against. of theplancan befound at site expressing views inopposition www.moundslakecom Selected information is available at and advocate for afree-flowing river. ment oftheMounds Lake proposal who willjointly monitor thedevelop local andstatewide organizations tion is comprised ofindividuals from formed. TheHeartoftheRiver Coali or 317 283-6283 . Also, aweb . ckahlo@ - - . -

https:// - - - - - ...A NoteontheMorgan-MonroeBackCountryArea... Souce: JeffSouce: Stant. PresidentBoard Haberman David inMorgan-Monroe State Forest 2013. BCA, Ridenour concluded therelease with, ex director oftheDNR,JamesRidenour the Morgan-Monroe Previous BCA. July 1981press release announcing late 1970sandearly1980s.Inthe in theHoosierNational Forest inthe tion to establishment ofawilderness public criticismofits staunch opposi signi Morgan-Monroe State Forest Jeff 2013.Souce: BCA, IDNR created BackCountry Areas in plained, is underway to establish several areas remaining inIndiana.Work who enjoy primitive therugged, prov We’re extremely pleasedto habitat. caution to notdisturb thenatural areas must exercise agreat dealof are unmarked. Users ofthese are unimproved fire trails which Trails intheBackCountry area for management purposes.. than walking ispermitted, except No modeoftransportation other Back Country areas inIndiana.. me to move aheadin Governor Orrhaspersonally urged ficant part to fend off growing ide thisnew area for persons establishing - Stant. M about protecting thewild forest ofthe INDIANA 1981-January one designated.) the Morgan Monroe BCAwas thelast (This isanabandonedobj The An articleinIDNR’SDecember organ Monroe BCA: s the wildernessseeker asaplaceof timbered land, to beenjoyed by lie 2,700plusacres ofprimarily . To thenorth,east andsouth Low GapRoad inMonroe County. miles southofMartinsville .on Backcountry Area . The peared acentury andahalfago. . much thesameasitmay have ap visiting a forested area looking that itwilloffer an experience of natural woodland ecosystem, and disturb aslittlepossibleofthe w Users ofthearea shouldenter more H the recreational needsof even more BackCountry areas to meet olitude andrepose. OUTDOOR INDIANA ith thephilosophy that they will was even more effusive Morgan-Monroe State Forest oosiers 1982issueof is located eight articlealso ective, as OUTDOOR - la with any wildforest ornatural wood There isnopretense ofcompatibility turning to mudinthespringrains. been scraped down to dirt,whichis their bark.Steep forest slopeshave trees orrippedofflarge sectionsof and skidders have mangledremaining network ofskiddertrails. Falling trees down andpulled outoftheforest ona ing awiderange ofages beingcut attest to thegroups oftrees cover and large gaps intheforest canopy have beenpiled.Many fresh stumps large openareas ofmudwhere logs a thirty-foot gravel road that connects timber sale.Ithasbeenwidenedinto Low GapRoad isclosedto allow for a tering tio existing fire trails opera forlogging equipment willuse possible, logging having slopesof lessthan45°.Where damaged ordiseasedtrees onsites to single-tree selectionofmature, Backcountry Area willberestricted harvestingstated, i “Timber --Jeff Stant, 2013 Fast forward to today. Thetrail en nd ecosystem here. ns. “ theMorgan Monroe BCAfrom

n the - - - - 7 birds,Dr. William H. Buskirk, Ph.D.,biodiversity Professor of Biology, Emeritus, Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana and hoosier forests Guest Column By:

Naturalists will readily admit their Over the last few decades the con- mosaic of different habitat patches interests are rewarded most when cept of “high biodiversity” has be- each with its own suite of species. the world around them provides var- come an ideal, an aspiration, and a Each different kind of habitat should ied and accessible experiences with metric for many ecologists. Yet, an in- cover enough land area, in the best native creatures and varied ecological creasing majority of Americans have configuration of parcels on the right “Research indicates that large, communities. For many, the rewards limited experience in natural settings. terrain to support viable populations are spiritual, aesthetic, or ethical. For Few children spend their days ram- of the species associated with it. contiguous parcels are required many, the values are ecological, intel- bling in fields and forests; few have With birds as indicators, what are lectual, practical or economic. a collection of insects or tree leaves; the major under-represented Hoo- to sustain viable populations of As a young boy growing up, my few have an informal assortment of sier habitats? Our modern landscape greatest joys were provided by fam- bones, rocks and other artifacts in a is strongly dominated by agriculture, ily day trips on the back roads of In- “dresser top museum”; and few learn suburban sprawl (witness Geist Res- forest-dependent species.” diana. We had a homemade spinner how to hunt, trap or fish. Only bird ervoir’s fate) and infrastructure; other on the dashboard that we used to watching has robust and growing pub- habitats contribute disproportionate- determine which direction to take at lic participation. And birds have -be ly few significant patches to the mo- an intersection. The phrase from an come one primary indicator used to Broad-Winged Hawk, saic. The least represented habitat Source: Bangordailynews.com. Edges between forests and adjacent dedication of a significant fraction of old license plate, “Wander Indiana”, assess biological conservation. types are obvious: wetlands, prairie agricultural, residential or clear-cut existing public lands to the produc- always evokes memories of those Each bird species occupies a range of grasslands and old-growth forests. habitats are detrimental to forest- tion specifically of old-growth forests times and the great discoveries we habitats within the spectrum of pos- Of these broad types, old-growth inhabiting birds due to intrusion of that are self-replacing (i.e., “climax”). made, especially in the more forested sible habitats. Some, like the Ameri- forest is by definition the most time- predators (House Cats, American This would require a change in current areas of southern Indiana: Pileated can Robin, use a broad range: from consuming to restore or produce. The Crows, Common Grackles, House policy, away from sustainable harvest Woodpeckers, geodes, bittersweet, agricultural fields and fencerows to time scale here is such that we prob- Wrens), of brood-parasites (Brown- of forest products to the assured last- salamanders, special “fishing holes” deep forests, though they are most ably don’t know what a truly “climax” headed Cowbirds), of competitors, ing production and preservation of where streams passed under county abundant in open areas with scat- forest in Indiana would look like; and of the drying and sunlight effects old-growth tracts. The use of public road bridges. When I was a school- tered trees. Others, like the Worm- we have no current examples. Hu- on vegetation structure and food sup- lands, specifically our state forests boy we lived near Geist Reservoir. eating Warbler are habitat special- man disturbances continually arrest plies. Thus the highest quality forests and for this The old fields and young stands of ists, restricted to wooded ravines in or set back the ecological succession are large and continuous stands with option has the advantage of their be- trees around the reservoir were no large areas of contiguous old forest. that leads to old forest communities. minimal peripheral and interior edge. ing existing, adequately large tracts match for the older forests of south- Among the other birds with habitat Those disturbances are suburban- already forested with young growth ern Indiana, but we did discover a preferences in wooded terrain are: ization, clearing for agriculture and In Indiana, options for restoration as starting points for succession. In Pileated Woodpecker as we rambled Broad-winged Hawk, Whip-poor- Cerulean Warbler, commerce, and forest harvest. Even and preservation of large parcels of my view, forest management practice freely around the lake on open reser- will, Yellow-throated Vireo, Cerule- Source: Tringa.org. selective logging arrests development undisturbed mature forest are lim- should include sustainable harvest on voir land. That sighting presaged the an, Hooded and Kentucky Warblers, of the forest, as it takes the mature ited. One option is for private land- other public lands in varying rates and heavily forested land that continued Ovenbird, Louisiana Waterthrush and “nurse trees” in the later stages of owners to place their property into forms. This should be guided by the ecological succession on those lands Scarlet Tanager. Several others, such succession. environmental easements precluding goal of producing the intermediate would have produced. as the Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Acadian future forest product harvest. This aged and varied mosaic of habitats I’ve followed my interest in land- Flycatcher, Wood Thrush, Black-and- The Indiana Forest Alliance “strives practice is crucial to the maintenance needed by other species’ populations. scapes and their inhabitants over the white Warbler and American Red- to see the regeneration of ancient, of biodiversity in many parts of the In this view, public lands should not years professionally and as an avoca- start, have habitat preferences in wid- resilient forest ecosystems…” and state [my wife and I are very satisfied be used to produce habitat types that tion, here in Indiana and around the er varieties and ages of forest habitat, thereby to sustain “the flora and fau- to have 40 acres (80% of our land) in are abundant on the non-public land- world. I’ve observed the developing including the oldest forests. Habitat na that dwell therein”. If we focus on a conservation easement with a land scape, as populations of species using perspectives on this topic in the scien- specificity exists in all animals, plants, adding ancient (old-growth) forests trust]. However, few owners have those are already sustainable. tific literature. I have up to 55 years fungi, and microbes. Birds are by no to our landscape, a few design crite- enough land or a collective will with of experience in Indiana, 30-40 years means the most narrowly specific. neighbors to establish adequately Scarlet Tanager, ria stand out. Research indicates that Dr. William H. Buskirk, Ph.D. of observation in parts of Africa and Given this, enhancement of regional Source: Fineartamerica.com. large, contiguous parcels are required large parcels. Professor of Biology, Emeritus Central America. I’ve seen the “be- biodiversity can be accomplished by to sustain viable populations of -for Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana fore” and “after” of many locations. creating landscapes composed of a est-dependent species. The second option would be the 8 9 HONORING THE WILD I write this column in honor of the diligent protection. It is time to stop abandoned practice of clear-cutting, magnificent forests with which we thinking of Indiana as a fly-over zone Seifert established a program that are blessed in Indiana. I grew up in for environmental protection. Unfor- increased the commercial logging in Colorado, and although I return for tunately our public forests are under the state forest by enormous amounts visits and remain very fond of the serious threat; although some of this (see Table 1, on page 3 above). forests of the Rockies, these days I am is due to rapidly changing environ- Although there is plenty of timber much more interested in the forests I mental conditions, much of the threat available in Indiana on private land, can visit within a 50-mile radius of my comes from the very institution that timber now being sold off the state home in Bloomington. I have fallen was established to care for our state forests for commercial purposes has , 2007, Source: Brian Richwine in love with the spectacular decidu- forests: the Division of Forestry in the reached an all-time high. This has ous, hardwood forests of southern Department of Natural Resources. meant that under Seifert’s direction, Indiana. We have woodland treasures The taxpayers of Indiana purchased areas previously off-limits to logging here that deserve much more ap- the land for the state forests acre by have been subjected to the wide- preciation than they often receive; acre, and the subsequent forests were spread destruction of a commercial Indiana forests are some of the most meant to be the people’s woodland. logging operation. The wilderness diverse forests anywhere in the world. The Division of Forestry claims to be experience designed for the Back The number of native tree species in managing the state forests for “mul- Country Area of Yellowwood and the forests of Colorado is less than tiple use,” however, an enormous Morgan-Monroe State Forests, for ex- twenty, whereas the number of native increase in commercial logging that ample, has now been shattered by the tree species in Indiana exceeds one undermines all other uses was initi- snarl of chainsaws, four-wheel-drive hundred! ated in 2005 when Governor Mitch skidders gunning up and down the Indiana has produced numerous Daniels fired the state forester and ravines, huge semi-trucks chugging nationally known environmentalists, replaced him with John Seifert, a along rutted roads pulling long trail- of public opinion polls that clearly our state forests seriously curtails the scientist Robert Zahner, for example, but too many of these have moved professional timber forester with ag- ers loaded with fresh cut trees, and demonstrate that the majority of the recreational use of these public lands; has concluded that the restoration of to do work in the forested regions gressive new plans for intensifying the tall cranes operating in large eroding citizens in the state of Indiana want one walking a favorite trail through large amounts of old-growth forests is of the west. The western forests are logging of the state forests. Under the openings where once stood a matur- no commercial logging in our state once familiar woods now is likely to essential for preserving the integrity undoubtedly a wonder to behold, dubious ruse of ramping up timber ing forest well on its way to achiev- forests. encounter a massive cut. Although of the biodiversity of many regions, in- but right here in Indiana are forests harvesting for the health of the forest, ing old growth status. What’s more, In the fall of 2001, for example, the the state forests comprise only 1% of cluding the eastern , and that warrant spirited celebration and which now includes a return to the all of this is taking place in the wake Indiana University Center for Survey Indiana’s acreage, they account for that we do not have nearly enough Research conducted a statewide poll 30% of available public recreational land dedicated to this purpose. He asking citizens: “In your opinion, land in the state. writes: “Good biological science tells should the Indiana Department of Perhaps even more importantly, us that the highest and most valuable Natural Resources continue to allow however, there is critical need to use of our eastern public forests is the commercial logging by private compa- maintain more of our public forests preservation of native biodiversity. nies on Indiana’s public land?” Only as scientific controls and reserves for Old-growth forests hold the key to this 33% answered yes. We might as- biodiversity. Mass extinction is pres- diversity, yet are the least represented sume that this number has shrunken ently taking place at an alarming rate, habitats on the eastern landscape.” significantly over the last decade with and a number of the species in our (Robert Zahner, “How Much Old the increased threats to our forests, state are currently threatened—many Growth is Enough?”, in Eastern Old- the devastating expansion of logging of them requiring the mature forests Growth Forests, ed. Mary Byrd Davis, on the state forests, and a younger with closed canopies that are being p. 357) generation with more environmental compromised by the increase in com- Zahner strongly recommends the awareness now becoming eligible mercial logging. One of the greatest end of all commercial logging on pub- voters. ethical and existential challenges of lic lands in favor of dedicating them The need to preserve large tracks of our times is the preservation of biodi- entirely to their higher purpose of undisturbed public forest is greater to- versity; restoring old-growth forests is preserving biodiversity. Please join in day than ever. Many Hoosiers regard vital to the success of this mission. our efforts to make the protection of these forests as sacred groves where Recent science helps us think more our public forests in Indiana a reality. remarkably transformative and restor- critically about the important issue ative experiences are possible. The of exactly how much old-growth David Haberman Harrison-Crawford State Forest, 2004. Morgan-Monroe State Forest BCA, 2012. Box Turtle in the Morgan-Monroe BCA, 2012. Source: Drew Laird Source: Myke Luurtsema. Source: Myke Luurtsema robust logging program taking place in forest is enough. US Forest Service President, IFA Board 10 11 I-69, THE DESTRUCTION CONTINUES IFA Board of Directors: As we go to print, the Indiana Depart- this latest segment of I-69, known as Southern District of Indiana to make Join the I.F.A. ment of Transportation’s land clearers Section 4, is consuming 36 percent the Army Corps of Engineers and INDOT David Haberman, President are leveling 1,100 acres of forests in of all federal highway funding that comply with the Clean Water Act as they John Flannelly, Treasurer Greene and western Monroe County Indiana received this year, leaving tear up numerous streams and wetlands Beck Woodaman, Secretary Office Location: Your membership information: to build the new terrain I-69 from many roads and bridges elsewhere in building I-69 in Section 4. For more Mary Bookwalter 112 N. Walnut St., Ste. 600 Crane to Bloomington. 940 of these need of repair to disintegrate fur- information, contact CARR, at 812-825- Joan Middendorf Bloomington, IN 47402 Name acres are considered “Core” or deep ther. On February 26, 2013 Hoosier 9555, [email protected] or HEC, at Kristen Becher Address forest. As if the assault on their Environmental Council and Citizens 317-685-8800, [email protected]. Mary K. Rothert maternity roosts in the state forests for Appropriate Rural Roads filed new Web: City, ST, Zip and the White Nose Syndrome wasn’t litigation in the US District Court, --Jeff Stant, 2013 www.indianaforestalliance.org The Indiana Phone enough, there are four known ma- Facebook: indianaforestalliance ternity roosts and 15 caves in which Email the Indiana Bats hibernate within or Forest Alliance Twitter: @ForestWatchIN is a non-profit statewide network of groups Annual next to these woods. In fact the sec- Membership $25 ond largest wintering population of and individuals dedicated to the long-term Hoosier Forest Watch (HFW)Phone: is812-332-4878 a project $50 Indiana Bats in the world is in a cave health and well-being of Indiana’s native IFA Staff: of the Indiana Forest Alliance. HFW was $100 within a few miles of this clearcut- Mail: ting. In addition to killing deep forests. We are volunteers and full-time staff created to monitor logging activity in Jeff Stant, Executive Director PO Box 1074 $250 forest creatures whose populations Indiana’s state forests, as well as provide working to provide accurate information Audreyto Moore, Coordinator Bloomington, IN 47402 are already in trouble, and destroy- [email protected] for the public to connect Other $ ing the lives of people who’ve taken the people of Indiana and to involve them in more with the forests they own. Find out I-69 Corridor, September 2012. Myke Luurtsema, Hoosier Forest Watch care of these woods for generations, efforts to protect and restore Indiana’s more at hoosierforestwatch.com! Add me to the Hoosier Forest Source: Tim Maloney Coordinator Watch email list as well [email protected] IFA Bird ID Walk, Yellowwood State Forest, 2013. Source: James Yang forests. We seek to hold corporations and government agencies accountable for their Since 1996, the Indiana Forest Alliance MembersMembers of ofIFA IF receiveA receive The regular Forest New Division of Forestry Draft Defender, as well as regular email up- actions. We attempt to improve forest policies has worked tirelessly to preserve public e-mail updates about upcoming Strategic Plan to be Released Soon forests in our state, which comprise of datesevents about and upcoming actions, includingevents and our ac- in the state through advocacy using only 9% of all forests in Indiana. We tions,Second including Sunday our Slow Second Saunter Sunday Every three to five years, education,the Division grass of Forestryroots political re- organizing, believe our state forests and Hoosier SlowSeries, Saunter Forest Series, Watch Forest workshops, Watch leases a new Draft Strategic Plan (DSP), which details workshops, educational hikes, and research, and litigation. National Forest should be conserved for educational hikes, and volunteer their goals and objectives during that time period. The dispersed recreation and preservation of volunteeropportunites. opportunities. current DSP was adopted in 2008 and expires in 2013; natural diversity, as only these public according to State Forester John Seifert, a new DSP is forests can provide in Indiana. We are Please mail this form and a check to: scheduled to be released this spring and will map out working to reduce commercial logging in the Division of Forestry’s management goals for the Indiana Forest Alliance our state forests, which has increased by P.O. Box 1074 next several years. Once a draft version of the DSP is more than 400% since 2004, and we Second Sunday Slow Saunter at Browning Mountain, 2011. Bloomington, IN 47402 THANK YOU to Our Recent Volunteers! released, public comments will be solicited. Source: Brian Richwinepromote responsible, sustainable, and In the past, public comments were submitted both in Slow Saunter, 2011. David Rupp*Jennifer Burch*Nelson Keller*Brian NOTICE!profitable The Indiana forest Forest stewa Alliancerdship has on learned private within the lastDonations few weeks to IFA are tax deductible. Richwine*Aileen Driscoll*Jason Rinehart*Forrest Gras* Nata- writing and during a few public hearings throughout lands. Source: Brian Richwine lie Colbert*Tina Moore the state. This has been one of the few opportunities that for reasons with which IFA does not agree and believes to be mistaken, the And to Our Recent Donors! for citizen-owners of our public forests to offer input Internal Revenue Service has reclassified IFA from eligible to ineligible to recieve tax Anne Haynes*E Lurn Home Inc*Joan Middendorf*Terry on the management of our state forests. We consider deductible contributions in its own name, effective December 15, 2012. IFA is -work Sanderson*Bonnie Garrett*Tamara Ciszczon*Peggy Schultz* ing with legal counsel and the IRS to restore as soon as possible the organization’s Clarke Kahlo*Lucille Bertuccio*Shaina Dexter*Heather these hearings to be an opportunity to rally support Beery* Phil and Ruthann Berck*Timothy Calahan*Kristen eligibility to receive tax-deductible contributions in its own name and will advise its Becher*Frederick Kackley*Richard Peine*Natalie for the protection of our public forests from current Colbert*Brian Richwine*Bob Flynn*Ian Morrall*Rhonda rampant logging practices. donors when that objective has been achieved. In the meantime, IFA has made the Luurtsema*Kathy Klawitter*Christine Linnemeier*Mary Bookwalter*Michael Hicks*Samuel Schwartz*Bill Hurley*John Join IFA’s e-mail list by sending an email to ifa.direc- necessary arrangements with Heartwood to recieve and disburse tax-deductible Byers*Eleanor Bookwalter*William Slaymaker*Julia Slaymaker*Mary E.Gaither*Robert Fischman*L An- [email protected] to stay informed and updated on the contributions for the benefit of IFA. If you wish to support our work with a tax- nette Alpert*Joan and Ed Staubach*Richard Miller*Mary deductible donation, please make your check or donation payable to Heartwood and K. Rothert*Charles Bookwalter*Betty Wagoner*Kevin release date of the DSP and the time and locations of Strunk*Richard and Janet Hill*Doug Davis*David write IFA on the memo line. If this is not a concern, please make your check directly Maidenberg*James Sweeney*Mark Stoops*Bob and Alice public hearings. Schloss*David and Faith Van Gilder*Ingrid Skoog*Jeff Mease --Myke Luurtsema, 2013 payable to IFA. We apologize for any confusion. --Jeff Stant, 2013 12 13 Indiana Forest Alliance non profit org PO Box 1074 Bloomington, IN 47402 us postage paid

Phone: 812.332.4878 bloomington, in Email: [email protected] www.indianaforestalliance.org permit no. 498 - - - 2011. Source: Brian Richwine Brian 2011. Source: Upcoming Events with the IFA! Events Upcoming Sunday, May 12th, 12:00 noon: May Sunday, fit And Edition! Day Mother’s Saunter, Slow Second Sunday the Pioneer visit to Indiana, Paoli, to south will we travel tingly, old-growth of tract 88-acre This Forest. Memorial Mothers The trail Indiana. size left in its of forests the largest of one is so may if time permits, short, we the tract relatively through is same that Park Mill State in Spring Woods Donaldson also visit meet in the Seminary Kroger Folks Square Bloomington day. hoo contact carpool. should to Other noon folks at lot parking directions. for [email protected] 18th, 2:00 p.m.: May Saturday, County the Monroe 1B at in Room workshop Watch Forest about out find Learn to where Library in Bloomington! Public locate and maps read to timber sales, how forest state proposed heard. opinion your have to how and timber saleproposed sites, Con forest. state nearby to a a visit will include workshop This questions! any have if you tact [email protected] 9th, 1:00p.m.: June Sunday, Series Saunter Slow Second Sunday our of installment Our June by a successful treesit of site Tree, will the Prometheus to take us meet Folks in 2001.Bloomington back Yellowwood of Friends carpool. 1:00 to at lot parking in the Seminary Kroger Square for [email protected] contact should Other folks directions.