Statewide Forest Assessment available for public review

Indiana DNR Release

A draft of the 2010 Statewide Forest Assessment document is available online for public review by conservationists, forest stakeholders, landscape stewards, Department of Natural Resources partners and anyone else with an interest until April 16.

The draft report is available at: http://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/5436.htm; comments, suggestions and input should be e-mailed to stateassessment@dnr.IN.gov.

The document provides information on Indiana’s forest conditions, trends, threats and priority landscape areas for both public and private ownerships. Issues covered include fragmentation, soil and water, invasives, biodiversity, recreation, and wood products.

A two-part event to build on the Statewide Forest Assessment will occur on Friday, April 30 and Saturday, May 1. The events, called Indiana Forest Conservation and Stewardship Forum, are open to the public and will take place at The Nature Conservancy’s Efroymson Conservation Center, 620 East Ohio Street, in Indianapolis.

The April 30 meeting is for professionals in landscape stewardship, conservation, natural resources and land-use planning, as well as serious private forestland owners. The meeting also will include afternoon issue-based work groups that will create outlines for developing specific components of the Statewide Forest Resource Strategy. The event begins with registration at 9 a.m. and runs until 3:30 p.m. Lunch is provided. Register for the Friday, April 30 session by calling (317) 232-4105 or e-mailing stateassessment@dnr.IN.gov.

The May 1 meeting will have similar sessions relating to the Statewide Assessment of Forest Resources and development of the Statewide Forest Resource Strategy but will not include dividing into specific work groups.

Public stakeholder input, comments and suggestions are an important part of this strategic planning process.

More information about the Indiana Forest Conservation and Stewardship Forum is at http://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/5438.htm