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The DNR is gearing up for another celebration---this one a century in the growing.
One hundred years ago, a small-town pharmacist-turned-botanist helped convince the state's legislature that good stewardship of Indiana's forestland was essential to the future of all Hoosiers. On March 4, 1901, the Division of Forestry was born.
We'll be celebrating the Division of Forestry's Centennial throughout the year.
Sam Carman, forestry education specialist, has written and will perform a monologue called "Charles Deam: In his own words" at selected events this spring.
Deam was Indiana's first state forester. His unforgettable character and legacy were profiled in our last issue. Look in future editions of Outdoor Indiana as well as your local paper for dates, times and locations of Sam's performances.
Also, several division employees and their family members are completing a quilt that depicts the centennial logo, all of Indiana's state foresters and state forests. Look for the quilt at this year's Indiana State Fair.
In addition, the Forest Discovery Center in Starlight, Ind. will unveil a permanent display for the division and the cooperative forest management program in March. Visit www.forestcenter.com for more information.
All of us owe a great debt to the public and private forest stewards of the past century.
By 1860, most of the forestland in the state had been converted for farming, industry and cities. Fewer than 1.5 million acres of forestland remained just 40 years later.
At the rate we were going, Indiana's forests would have all but disappeared by the 1930s.
Through Deam and other state foresters, we've come a long way toward healing the past misuse of our land. Since the beginning, the DNR has taken an active management approach to forestland that includes conservation, recreation, habitat and limited timber harvesting to get the most benefits from the land now and create a better forest for the future.
We've partnered with countless Hoosier landowners, students, outdoor enthusiasts and visitors through education, incentives and cooperative programs to make Indiana forests some of the best in the country.
We've changed the course of history---for the better! Forests now cover 20 percent of the state, or about 4.5 million acres, even as appetites for forest products continue to increase.
This milestone is even more incredible considering that the state owns only 4 percent of the forestland in Indiana. The forest products industry contributes almost $2 billion dollars to the Hoosier economy and provides more than 55,000 jobs.
However, those aren't the only benefits of forests. Properly managed forests reduce soil erosion and make our water cleaner. Habitat for wildlife has increased, and so have wildlife viewing opportunities.
During the next year, I encourage you to visit one of Indiana's 13 state forests and the display at the Forest Discovery Center.
You'll see some of the most beautiful land in the state. Also, you'll learn about how it came to be and the steps we are taking to ensure that forestry in Indiana will continue to grow for the next 100 years and beyond.
