By partnering with several other groups and with funding through the Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership (LRP), Indiana soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs) are tackling invasive species and managing areas for oak regeneration.

The Hoosier Hills and Highlands Oak Community Restoration Partnership project runs across 18 counties of the most heavily forested and diverse forest systems in the Central Hardwood Region.

“Through the Joint Chiefs’ cost-share funds and education opportunities, complementary practices were completed on adjoining private and public land,” Judi Brown, executive director of DuBois County Soil and Water Conservation District, said. “This partnership helps ensure a more successful oak forest by using management activities that cover a wider area. Properly managing for oak regeneration, coupled with aggressive invasive species management, is a recipe for large areas of healthy forests across south central Indiana.”

The SWCD was also involved in supporting efforts of the Southern Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management (SICIM), an active partner to the Forest Service and NRCS in the program. DuBois County SWCD provides funding and board members to the SICIM, which created strike teams, hired and trained interns and also provided funding for boots-on-the-ground events. Clay County SWCD also helped coordinate two landowner field events for the Forest Service.

The project area of the Central Hardwoods Region provides habitat for declining wildlife species such as bats, birds and other cave-dwelling species, and also contains watersheds that provide drinking water to several communities. The project consolidated individual efforts of a variety of partners focusing on oak community regeneration within the region.

Other partners included Indiana Department of Natural Resources; U.S. Department of Defense; The Nature Conservancy; Southern Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management; USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; Indiana Forestry and Woodland Owners Association; Indiana Association of Consulting Foresters; Central Hardwoods Joint Venture; Lost River Watershed Group; Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts; Purdue University Forestry and Natural Resources Extension; Indiana State Department of Agriculture; Sycamore Land Trust; National Wild Turkey Federation; National Audubon Society; Ruffed Grouse Society; and American Woodcock Society.

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