NWTF Indiana Allocates $93K to State Forest Habitat Enhancements

The NWTF funding facilitates match requirements for federal Pittman-Robertson funds. The matching funds from the NWTF will allow the Indiana DNR to tap into a larger funding source and ultimately conserve more acreage, including a diversity of plant communities and habitat for wild turkeys and many wildlife species.

“The Indiana DNR’s divisions of Fish & Wildlife and Forestry have historically partnered with the NWTF on numerous significant habitat projects across the state,” said Bill Seegers, Indiana DNR’s southeast public lands supervisor. “This new forest habitat project will be another outstanding example of how partners can work together and combine resources to have huge impacts on wildlife populations and recreational opportunities.”

Projects will span across Indiana’s 15 state forests and include prescribed fire, trail daylighting, creating permanent wildlife openings, and projects that facilitate hunter access, among others. Partners are conservatively estimating that the work will impact 400 acres per year, equating to 2,000 acres across the five-year funding period.

While many of the habitat projects will have smaller footprints in comparison the over 160,000-acre state forest system — for example, a 20-acre prescribed fire project, a 10-acres wildlife opening project, etc. — the forest management work will help increase the overall carrying capacity of the entire forest landscape.

“When our partners at Indiana DNR came to the Indiana NWTF State Chapter with this project, our board of directors was overwhelmingly supportive,” said Ryan Boyer, NWTF district biologist for Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. “Our volunteers in Indiana are as effective at delivering conservation as they are passionate about it. We are excited to partner with Indiana DNR on these projects and look forward to our shared success.”

And while the work will directly benefit wild turkeys, its impact will enhance critical waterways, endangered species and overall ecosystem health.

“Much of the state forest system exists on upland parcels where water availability is limited or only seasonally available,” said Scott Haulton, Indiana DNR’s forestry wildlife program director. “Historically, the development of permanent water sources, such as forest ponds, has greatly benefited a wide range of species. In spring, these ponds serve as the primary source for the pond-breeding amphibians in our forests, such as wood frogs and the state’s largest terrestrial salamander, the eastern tiger salamander. Research in state forests has recently found these ponds are also essential watering sources for several species of forest bats, including federally endangered species, like the Indiana bat and northern long-eared bat.”

Through the collaborative efforts of the Indiana DNR’s divisions of Fish & Wildlife and Forestry, and the Indiana NWTF State Chapter, management of these unique habitats across the state forests will appeal to a wide variety of wildlife and benefit some of the state’s most imperiled species.

Work through the new funding is currently planned to begin as early as this July on Harrison-Crawford State Forest and Greene-Sullivan State Forest. The initial work will be focused on enhancing forest wildlife openings and promoting early successional habitat as well as improving user access to the forests.

The $93,750 the Indiana NWTF State Chapter allocated to the purchase was made possible from the Indiana NWTF License Plate Fund, which provides the Indiana State Chapter $25 for every NWTF Indiana license plate sold. The state chapter uses 100% of those funds for mission-related activities within the state.

About the National Wild Turkey Federation   

Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 24 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $10 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities, and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide Healthy Habitats. and Healthy Harvests. for future generations.