Indianapolis, IN, August 30, 2024
Beginning about 20 miles south of Indianapolis, the Southern Indiana Sentinel Landscape comprises a unique patchwork of land uses. It is anchored by four critical Department of Defense (DoD) installations and ranges: Naval Support Activity Crane, the Lake Glendora Test Facility, Atterbury-Muscatatuck Training Center, and the Indiana Air Range Complex. This vast landscape also contains six state parks, seven state forests, nine state fish and wildlife areas, 39 state-dedicated nature preserves, one National Forest, and three National Wildlife Refuges.
Despite these protected areas, the landscape is faced with numerous encroachment challenges including incompatible development, declines in water quality, risks of drought and flooding, challenges to soil health, and threatened and endangered species habitat loss. To address these challenges, stakeholders came together in 2022 to form the Southern Indiana Sentinel Landscape to collaborate on enhancing conservation efforts while protecting the military mission. They are achieving this goal partially by offering financial incentives for voluntary forestland easements throughout the project area, including portions of twenty-four counties across southern Indiana.
Under this program, forestland owners work with NRCS to place permanent easements on their property. These easements will ensure that the land remains forested and protected from development, safeguarding important wildlife habitats, maintaining water quality, and enhancing the overall resilience of the landscape. This initiative is expected to have far-reaching impacts on the region, helping to conserve thousands of acres of forestland while providing landowners with the financial means to maintain and enhance their properties.
“I cannot overemphasize the benefits of restoring, enhancing and protecting our forestland within this project area,” said Mortenson. “This project provides a much greater impact where Indiana’s significant natural resources, species habitat, and military training needs intersect.”
While applications are accepted on a continuous basis, all applications for this round of funding consideration must be received by October 4. Visit your local USDA Service Center and speak with an NRCS representative to see if you are eligible for this funding opportunity. You can find your local office and representative by visiting https://www.farmers.gov/service-locator.
To learn more about RCPP in Indiana, visit: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/rcpp-regional-conservation-partnership-program/indiana/RCPP.
Contacts:
Damarys Mortenson, State Conservationist (damarys.mortenson@usda.gov)
Curtis Knueven, Assistant State Conservationist – Programs (curtis.knueven@usda.gov)
Kris Vance, State Public Affairs Specialist (kris.vance@usda.gov)
