What is the State of Your State Forest? - blog from volunteer leader Lora Kemp

April 17, 2024

Learn how to be a citizen scientist, hike the hills and creeks of the rugged State Forests of Indiana. With campgrounds, hiking trails, horse trails, and mountain biking trails, Indiana’s State Forests capture the “wild” experience. Though not much official “wilderness” still exists east of the Mississippi. Indiana’s State Forests give you the “Wild Experience.” Deep woods, large rocks, creeks, nature, and other hidden gems are all waiting to be explored. Discover the wild outdoors of Indiana for the “WILD” in all of us. Support Indiana’s Wild Areas.

Two people with their arms outstretched to show the size of a giant tulip poplar tree in a forest. There are leaves on the ground and the sky is blue in the background.
Volunteer leaders Lora Kemp and Julie Lowe stretched across a Chinkapin Oak in the Martin State Forest. Photo: Kurt Kemp.
 

Unfortunately, Indiana’s State Forests are being logged at an alarming rate. Not every inch of public land should be used as a commercial timber forest. Of the approximate 160,000 acres of state forest in Indiana, only 4,000 acres are protected from no logging. That means only 4% of Indiana’s State Forests are set aside for “No Logging.”  

There are special places worth saving and there is one inside of each state forest area; areas that need to be set aside for water quality, natural evolution, for their aesthetic nature, saving and preserving endangered species, and for future generations.

Earth Day is April 22. Rachel Carson, author of Silent Spring and inspiration for the Environmental movement of the 1960’s & 70’s, said, “Never let your voice be silent.” We will be activating our voices.

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD _ State Forest ACTION ALERT: Martin State Forest 30 Day Comment Period OPEN: https://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/state-forest-management/public-comment/

Martin State Forest (Comp 3 Tract 7, Comp 6 Tract 5, Comp 6 Tract 6 and Comp 7 Tract 12), posted April 10, 2024

Comments due May 9 - https://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/state-forest-management/public-comment/state-forest-management-guides/

After hiking to the Tank Springs Nature Preserve on Sunday and inspecting the area, I believe it is a beautiful natural area that should not have a timber harvest due to the need for “Near Mature to Old Growth Conditions” in this forest. The beautiful mixed hardwood mosaic forest offered an open forest floor scattered with lovely spring flowers, rolling hills, and steep hills, lovely creeks, and the fantastic flow of the water rushing from the springs. These are the kinds of areas that should be protected. And even though Tank Springs Nature Preserve Area is protected, the area around it would be damaged, disturbing the natural beauty of the forest for years to come.

A man stands by a tree in a forest, pointing out blue spray paint on a tree. He is wearing gray shorts, a yellow t-shirt, and a white cap. His face is turned away from the camera towards the tree. The sky is blue in the background.
Kurt Kemp explains the blue spray painted markings and what they mean for the timber auction scheduled for later this year by the Indiana Division of Forestry, DNR. Martin State Forest. Photo: Julie Lowe.
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 "Ghosts"
by Kurt Kemp

Yes, I have seen a Ghost
A Ghost of a once vibrant Forest
A Forest that is no more
A Ghost crying amongst the debris
The remains of once proud trees
A Ghost covered in mud
Left by man's ego, machines, and greed
I saw in the Ghost's eyes a yearning,
for what could and should have been.

Thank you for taking action.

Lora Kemp
Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter Executive Committee

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