Sustainable Natural Resources Task Force- Status of Indiana’s Forest

ResourcesDecember 8, 2011

John R. Seifert, Director, Division of ForestryIndiana Department of Natural Resources

Historical Context (Pre & European Settlement)

• 90% of Indiana was forested when the early Europeans arrived

• During settlement time the forest was viewed as a source of material for building a homestead

• The rest of the forest was cleared for subsistence farming

• By the early 1900’s most of the land in Indiana had been cleared for agriculture

1900 – 1960’s• Continued clearing of forest patches but at a slower

pace• The value of timber (wood) begins to improve such

that landowners considered management and marketing

• The beginning of the price differentiation for various trees species

• Environmental issues surrounding forest harvesting begin to appear

• Wildlife, water, recreation and aesthetics become discussion points with the public relative of forest management

Current Social and Economic Forest Issues

• A balance between environmental issues and economic drivers – pay the taxes, pay the mortgage, new options for higher and best use of the land

• Fewer people remember their historical roots (on the farm) and have lost touch with the biological world – forests are dynamic and changing

• Most Hoosiers rely on mass media, 30 second sound bites and social media to provide their science

• More competing economic uses for the land

2009 DNR Forestry CommissionedPublic Opinion Survey - Indiana

• 48% “very concerned” and another 45% “somewhat concerned” about the long term health of Indiana’s woodlands

• 55% thought 3% public ownership of Indiana woodlands was “not enough”

• 72% agreed with the statement “The amount of forestland in Indiana is shrinking.”

• Respondents identified “urban sprawl” as the highest threat to Indiana woodlands

Survey Results on Harvesting• 95% approved removing trees to protect from

insect and diseases• 85% approved harvesting if done by a professional

forester• 82% approved of harvesting to improve places for

wildlife• 61% approved of harvesting to make lumber and

other wood products• 88% agreement: “IN woodlands should be

managed for a balance of wood products, wildlife, recreation and good water quality”

Indiana Forest Action PlanA national process with a Hoosier

result

http://www.forestactionplans.org/states/indiana

Survey of Resource Professionals and Private Landowners

Indiana Forest Issue Relative Importance ScoreFragmentation and/or conversion of forests to another land use 507Conservation and maintenance of soil and water resources 425The spread and control of invasive species 421Conservation of biodiversity 364Counterproductive government forest conservation related policies 249Availability of land for public recreation 234High cost of forest ownership and low incentives to retain 226Conservation of forests that protect drinking water supplies 206Overpopulation of white-tailed deer 194Inadequate public education about forests 166Sustaining Indiana's forest product industry 160Lack of active management on forests 146Sustainable regeneration of oak woodlands 138Inadequate youth education about forests 94Lack of healthy woodlands and trees in urban areas 90The control of forest fires 73The loss of fire dependent plant communities and habitats 67Forests not managed for carbon storage 45

Indiana Forest Action Plan

Strategies1.) Conserve, manage and protect

existing forests2.) Restore and connect forests3.) Expand Best Management Practices4.) Coordinate education, training and

technical assistance5.) Maintain and expand markets for

Indiana hardwoods

Full plan available here:http://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/5436.htm

Patch Name Acres % Forested % Protected % Public % CFWRavinia 72,151 69% 7.7% 5.8% 8.9%South-Central Indiana Patch 2,532,989 68% 22.0% 21.8% 9.5%Patoka 139,686 62% 15.9% 15.9% 7.1%Bluegrass 645,169 60% 11.4% 11.2% 5.1%Whitewater 222,108 59% 8.7% 8.6% 7.9%Sugar Creek 62,092 57% 11.5% 11.2% 17.9%Little Pigeon 54,448 53% 8.6% 8.6% 8.2%Raccoon 67,283 51% 5.6% 5.6% 13.0%Minnehaha 96,458 50% 32.5% 32.5% 2.5%

Beyond Political Boundaries

• Average patch size by natural area ranges from a low of 23 forested acres in the Black Swamp to 968 acres in the Shawnee Hills.

• Strategy # 2 to focus on restoring and connecting forests (especially in riparian areas)

Forest Land Use Change in Indiana

• Forest change based on satellite imagery comparison shows a large amount of change– 1,272,820 acres of land

weren’t forest in 1992 but were forest in 2009.

– 924,680 acres of land were forest in 1992 but were not forest in 2009.

Indiana Forest Action Plan

Impacts• Increasingly

targeted federal dollars (state)

• Increasingly competitive federal allocations must relate to plan

• Greater stakeholder engagement and understanding of issues

Current Strengths

• Increasing forested acreage, volume per acre and quality

• Very diverse forest species composition – economic and environmental

• Historically strong primary and secondary forest products industry

• Long history of professional forest management – Classified Forest and Wildlands Program

• Strong demand for land ownership

Forest Resource InformationForest Inventory & Analysis (FIA)Continuous Forest Inventory (CFI)•State Forest Properties System•Classified Forest System

Total Economic Impact: $16.6 billion* Every board foot of timber processed had $61 of economic impact.

* 87.7 percent of logs processed in Indiana were harvested in Indiana

There are 4,713,557 acres of forest land in Indiana;* 84 percent is privately owned* 98 percent is available for timber production* 98 percent is hardwoodsTimber value of managed forests is about 34 percent higher than unmanaged

forests.

Total Value of Shipments of $8.1 billion was 2.8 percent of Indiana’s Gross Domestic Product.

* $164 million was paid to landowners for timber. * For every $1 paid to landowners for timber, $48 of value was added in the

production of final products.

The hardwood industry employed 35,641 people* An additional 86,139 jobs were generated in economic sectors supporting or

supported by the hardwood industry

Source – Indiana’s Hardwood Industry: Its Economic Impact (updated 2010-Hoover/Settle)

1961 1966 1971 1980 1984 1990 1995 2000 2005 20080

100

200

300

400

500

600

444

519

406

369308

271

207 206

236

184

Sawmills in Indiana

The number of mills has dropped 65% since 1966. However, since 1995 the number of mills have been fairly stable dropping only 12%. If the

economy doesn’t begin to pick up, we expect more mills to shut down. We do not expect any significant turnaround for another 2 years.

Source – 2008 Timber Product Output Survey

1990 1995 2000 2005 20080

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

90,000

80,121

66,446

81,089

74,216

63,839

Industrial Roundwood Production in Thousand Cubic Feet

Roundwood production has declined 21% since 1990. Products include sawlogs, veneer logs, pulpwood, staves,

handles, and other products.

Source – 2008 Timber Product Output Survey

1921 Classified Forest Program

1979 Classified Wildlife Habitat Program

2006 Programs merge to form Classified Forest & Wildlands Program

Program provides property tax benefit for enrolled lands ($1/acre assessment)

Landowner must manage land according to management plan.

Administered by Division of Forestry

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

300,000

350,000

400,000

450,000

500,000

550,000

600,000

650,000

700,000

PROGRAM ENROLLMENT Classified Forest Program 2000-2005

Classified Forest & Wildlands Program 2006 - Present

Program Enrollment

Year

Acre

s

*

* In 2006, Classified Forest Program & Classified Wildlife Habitat Program merged to cre-ate Classified Forest & Wildlands Program

52.3% growth/10 yrs

Classified Forest & Wildlands

Enrolled Lands by Habitat Type

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020500,000

550,000

600,000

650,000

700,000

750,000

800,000

850,000Projected Classified Enrollment

Acr

es

13,000 tracts

Classified Forest & Wildlands2010 Management Activities

• 519 Timber Harvests (39.8 million BdFt)• 322 Tree Plantings

(2,500 acres)• 2,778 Timber Stand

Improvement Project (52,00 acres)

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020500,000

550,000

600,000

650,000

700,000

750,000

800,000

850,000

Projected Classified Enrollment

Acr

es

Division of Forestry

“Green” Forest Certification• State Forests

– Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) & Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)

– 153,000 acres certified– 12,000,000 BdFT

• Classified Forest & Wildlands– American Tree Farm System &

Forest Stewardship Council– 555,000+ acres certified– 38,000,000 Bdft

Cost Share Three Year Trends

2009 2010 2011 $-

$200,000.00

$400,000.00

$600,000.00

$800,000.00

$1,000,000.00

$1,200,000.00

$1,400,000.00

$1,600,000.00

$1,800,000.00

Total DollarsForestry PracticesInvasive Spieces Control

< 5% of all IN EQIP federal dol-lars spent on forestry practices

IWRP

• Summer 2006 to Winter 2007• Three sign ups 200K each• 15,605 Acres affected• Backlog ~ 150k each sign up• 5,000 Acres in backlog each signup• Timber Stand Improve 85% of Projects

State Forests

Indiana’s State Forest System

• Working lands managed for multiple benefits– 13 State Forests – 156,000 acres– Includes 17 nature preserves (2,369 acres)– Timber, wildlife, hunting, foraging, camping, lakes,

firewood – 4,500 acres forest restoration activities annually

• Reforestation, forest improvement, invasive species, erosion control.

State Forests- Surrounding States(Only Indiana and Ohio Certified as Well Managed by international certification

systems –Green Certification)

Indiana State ForestsConserving Biodiversity

• Sustainable Forest Resource Management• Timber harvests and restoration activities administered by professional foresters at

all forests• Forest management results in habitat diversity, supporting greater species diversity• Several Nature Preserves established and managed

• Certified as well managed by FSC & SFI• 14 million board feet green certified hardwoods sold last FY• Approximately $3 million (15% returned to counties)• Harvest approximately 50% of annual growth• State Forest continue to increase in timber volume

• Forest Research– HEE project (a 100 year effort)

– In Eastern US only Missouri has a similar project– Independent research projects ongoing (2011: 15 projects, 11 partners)– Continuous Forest Inventory system remeasured

Indiana State Forests Conservation Concerns

• Public support• Indiana DNR and the Division of Forestry has a long positive history -the envy of

many states• Protection of important lands

– Consolidating ownership improves sustainability– General land acquisition funding has declined while land availability has gone up

• Management of invasive species (plants, animals, insects, disease)– Work never ends– Reintroduction of American Chestnut a possibility

• Protecting species of greatest conservation need– Indiana bat habitat conservation plan– Environmental Assessment completed for 2008-2027– Research includes management effects on endangered species

The Value of Forests for Wildlife

• Over 330 wildlife species found in Indiana use forests or woodlands

• Most of these (approximately 58%) use forests or woodlands as their primary habitat type

• 56% of Indiana’s wildlife Species of Greatest Conservation Need use forests or woodlands

– Mammals: 20 of 22– Birds: 16 of 47– Amphibians: 6 of 11– Reptiles: 13 of 19

• Five Federally listed wildlife species use Indiana forests and woodlands

Land Acquisition History 1998 - 2008

• 74 Projects – 9,431 acres• Various funding sources – IHT, INDOT funds,

timber sale funds, donations, coal mining compensation

• Various Partners – TNC, NWTF, trail users – hikers and horses

• Inconsistent over years – some years had less than 100 acres acquired, some had over 1,500 acres

Acquisition History 1998 - 2008

0

500

1000

1500

2000

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Year

Acr

es A

cqui

red

Timber Sale Funds in Land Acquisition

• 1,040 acres have been purchased using funding solely from timber sale revenues with a total cost of $2.65 million.

• An additional 160 acres are being purchased solely with $430,000 of timber sale revenues.

• An additional 2,750 acres have been or are being purchased a major contribution of timber sale revenues. Of the over $6 million purchase price of these, over $3.5 million is from timber sale revenues.

Opportunities for Future Acquisition

• Currently there are four larger parcels available for acquisition that combined contain over 2,000 acres.

• There are over two dozen smaller parcels available that combined contain over 1,000 acres.

• These would take an estimated $6 - $9 million in funding to purchase.

Opportunities for Future Acquisition

• An annual allotment of $1.5 - $2 million for land acquisition would allow for the acquisition of 500 – 1000+ acres every year (depending on per acre cost).

• The acquisition strategy would be to target one or two larger “project” parcels, and then several smaller ones that improve management of existing state forest lands.

Disincentives (Opportunities) to Owning Woodlands In Indiana

• Long term nature of forest management• Periodic income stream• More non-monetary demands on woodlands• Other than lumber, no well established monetary streams • Limited opportunities for cost share assistance• Typically higher and better use of the land - $• Very few legacy partnership/families• Majority of land transfers results in the extraction of

resources faster than can be replaced

Opportunities/Challenges• Long term consistent forest management program• More professional management• Increased demand for limited number of State DNR foresters• A large number of private woodland owners willing to sell to the

Division/ -- no funding• Ever increasing demand for cost share dollar to assist in long term

forest management• Maintaining a viable forest products industry within the state –

primary and secondary• All cost share policy and support is driven at the Federal level - IWRP

first state cost program ever attempted • There has not been a real landscape changing proposal on forest

sustainability since the Classified Forest program of 1921

Opportunities/Challenges(continued)

• There has not been a real landscape changing proposal on forest sustainability since the Classified Forest program of 1921 – back then the property taxes were the primary expense

• Economics drive the majority of all environmental decisions at the private sector level

Challenges to Forest Wildlife in Indiana(from: Indiana Comprehensive

Wildlife Strategy, 2005)

• Habitat loss ranked top forest wildlife problem

• Top 5 Forest Habitat Threats:1. Developmental Sprawl2. Habitat Fragmentation3. Habitat Degradation4. Unsustainable Agricultural/Forestry Practices5. Successional Change

DoF Meeting Challenges to Forest Wildlife

1&2. Developmental Sprawl / Fragmentation

• Best defense = large contiguous forest units, long-term forest protection

• State forests = large forest units, limits fragmentation from non-forest land uses

• Future state forest acquisitions targeted to grow existing units and reduce inholding fragmentation

• Legislative intent, long-term protection and resource conservation

DoF Meeting Challenges to Forest Wildlife

1&2. Limiting Sprawl/Fragmentation on private forestland

• Incentives to keep private forests forestedo Classified Forest & Wildlands programo Develop IN Forest Mitigation Bank programo Other cost-share programs

• Maintain and Grow Large Forest Patcheso Strategic Forestland Conservation programo Statewide Forest Assessment identified high priority

conservation areas, includes existing areas of high forest cover and corridors along riparian areas and between isolated forest patches

DoF Meeting Challenges to Forest Wildlife

3&4. Habitat Degradation/ Unsustainable Practices

• Third-party Certification (SFI, FSC)o State Forests and Classified Forest participantso Certification requires strict adherence to rigorous criteria and

frequent auditso Promotes only sustainable practices that maintain or enhance

healthy forest communities and habitats• Non-timber Resources Featured in Management Planning

o Classified Forest Stewardship Planso State Forest Management Guideso Emphasizes resource conservation; ensures protection of rare

resources, like T&E species and unique communities;addresses invasive species

DoF Meeting Challenges to Forest Wildlife

5. Managing Succession & Balancing Forest Age Classes

• Maturing forests = Young forest habitats dwindling o Most IN forest wildlife species use early successional

habitats for at least some life requirements o Early successional forest identified among “most

threatened” forest habitats; <6% of statewide forestland is classified as early successional

o Important to many of Indiana’s species of greatest conservation need, including whip-poor-will and golden-winged warbler

DoF Meeting Challenges to Forest Wildlife

5. Managing Succession & Balancing Forest Age Classes

• Forest management is an important tool for maintaining and improving biodiversity

• State Forest goal to balance age classes; 10% of acreage in both early successional and older forest conditions

• Use both even- and uneven-age harvest methods on State Forests to diversify forest condition and habitat opportunities

• Cost share programs available to private forest owners to develop early successional habitats