Opinions and motives conflict in ongoing Hoosier National Forest controversy

With around 20% of Indiana being forest land and 83% of that privately owned, it can be challenging for some Hoosiers to truly immerse themselves in wild space.

Hoosier National Forest is Indiana’s only national woodland, and it provides an escape into a world of hunting, fishing, hiking and numerous other outdoor activities. Many Hoosiers value the feeling of a rising heartbeat as they scale steep ridges, listening to the hushing of the wind through pocketed pine groves, counting the number of creek crossings and the occasional sighting of white-tailed deer, pileated woodpeckers, and maybe even a bobcat track.

When Gov. Mike Braun sent a letter to the United States Forestry Service (USFS) asking for a stop to the Buffalo Springs Restoration Project—a forest management initiative involving up to 15,000 acres subjected to a prescribed burn, 698 acres clearcut, and selective herbicide application to 771 acres aside from other treatments—concerns and attention increased.