The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

The Indiana Chapter's Strategic Plan of Conservation Activities was adopted on June 1, 2007 and it is hoped that the goals set will be accomplished by June 30, 2016.

While the objectives listed coincide with the The Nature Conservany's global planning process, the high level actions reflect activities specific to Indiana alone.  

1) Acquire lands, easements and leases to protect biodiversity.

High-level actions:
a. Conserve 20,000 acres of habitat at portfolio sites within Indiana.
b. Enroll 5,000 acres of forestland into the Forest Bank.
c. Conserve the two remaining “Priority One” hibernacula sites for the federally endangered Indiana bat
d. Conserve critical lands at five subterranean portfolio sites

2) Work with protected area and public resource management agencies to effect land and water management decisions that will protect biodiversity.

a. Work with IDNR Division of Forestry to secure FSC certification of all 200,000 acres of state forests by 2010.
b. Work with IDNR deer management strategy to reduce the deer herd relative to current levels.  (Note: IDNR does NOT release deer population statistics)
c. Work with the Hoosier National Forest to develop an effective management plan that includes invasive species control, appropriate fire and harvesting techniques to ensure oak regeneration and other appropriate forests habitat types within the national forest.
d. By 2010 develop and implement consensus management plans with IDNR at two IDNR owned portfolio sites that advances appropriate restoration and management goals for biodiversity management.

3) Secure increased public funding for biodiversity conservation.

High-level actions:
a. Secure $3 million/year of state funding for the Indiana Heritage Trust program.
b. Working with the IDNR explore the potential for bonding strategies for state forest acquisition and management.  If feasible begin implementation by 2010.

4) Restore degraded habitat at biologically important sites.

High-level actions:
a. Working with partners, influence a net gain of 10,000 acres of floodplain forest/wetlands along the Wabash River.
b. Restore an additional 3,000 acres of prairie and wetlands at Kankakee Sands and nearby portfolio sites in Northwest Indiana.
c. Provide leadership for Indiana and the Central US Region in large scale ecological restoration technology though aggressive restoration activities in Indiana followed by appropriate documentation and information dissemination of threat abatement at portfolio sites. 

Go to thelist of Next Objectives