PROGRAMS
Indiana Woodland Steward Program
The Woodland Steward is a 16-page, full-color publication that includes in-depth articles for Indiana woodland owners.
The Woodland Steward is a 16-page, full-color publication that includes in-depth articles on forest stewardship and health, invasive species and pests, wildlife habitat management, economics, and more. We produce and distribute 3 issues of the Woodland Steward to over 31,000 landowners who own an estimated 1.15 million acres of woodlands. Information within the Woodland Steward provides woodland owners with a baseline knowledge of current issues, appropriate strategies and practices to achieve land management goals, and sources of assistance with planning and more. Some readers implement practices themselves from what they learn (e.g., invasive plant control) while others do so with the assistance of advisors such as professional foresters (e.g., stewardship planning and timber harvesting). Content is determined by the Woodland Steward Institute editorial board made up of organizations who serve woodland owners as advisors (e.g. professional foresters, Division of Forestry) and woodland owner organizations (e.g. Indiana Forestry and Woodland Owner Association) who have direct knowledge of woodland owner needs. This publication is supported in part by the USDA-NIFA Renewable Resources Extension Act funds.
SIGN UP FOR THE WOODLAND STEWARD
Sign up
Any woodland owner or others interested in Indiana’s woodlands can receive the Woodland Steward at no cost. There are two options listed below. Your information will not be shared with a third party. Questions? Contact the editor, Brian MacGowan, macgowan@purdue.edu.
Contact
Brian MacGowan
Title
It has been a pleasure to see the growth and success of the Woodland Steward since its inception in 1992. I think back on those early years serving on the fledgling board and am so impressed by your continuous and dedicated efforts all these years to help the WSI stand the test of time. AND achieve a newsletter so enjoyed and looked forward to by tens-of-thousands of Indiana woodland owners. Well done!
Dan Ernst
Professional forester and past Assistant State Forester with the Indiana Division of Forestry
Program Impact
Woodland owners represent a small segment of Indiana’s population. However, they own and manage the vast majority of forestland in the state. Keeping Indiana’s woodlands working through planned, intentional management benefits all citizens by enhancing biodiversity, clean air and clean water. Moreover, woodlands serve as the “fuel” for Indiana’s forestry and wood products industry which contributes over $10.5 billion every year to the state’s economy.
As part of the Woodland Steward Institute, we help produce and mail three issues to over 31,000 landowners. Funds from Renewable Resources Extension act pay for 15% (approximately 5 to 1 match) of the total cost. The remaining funds are leveraged from state and private partners.
Information presented in the Indiana Woodland Steward helps readers understand issues and possible solutions. In many cases, woodland owners aren’t equipped to directly implement management practices. However, articles facilitate understanding of practices that are (or are not) a good fit, increase awareness of professionals who can provide them more advice and services, and empowers readers to better communicate with their advisors. Based on a past evaluation of readers, 54 percent regularly utilize information from the Steward; 51 percent, who own an estimated 1.15 million ac this past fiscal year, will implement or improve at least one practice they learned from the publication.
Recent Got Nature? Blog Posts
EMAIL SIGNUP
Our newsletter contains blog highlights, answers to Ask an Expert, announcements of new publications, videos and upcoming events!