Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The Natural Resources Leadership Development Institute program empowered natural resources professionals to resolve controversial environmental issues in a non-confrontational manner more effectively. The network of trained natural resource leaders from a broad range of resource specialties was expanded during the project period. Seventy-seven (77) leaders were trained over sixteen (16) workshops. A total of 1,650 acres were impacted and resulted in an estimated $105,000 saved or earned. Many leaders attending these workshops came from environmental agencies, especially those dealing with water quality and soil erosion. PARTICIPANTS: Natural Resources Leadership Development Institute - (PD) Bill Hoover, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University, (PD) Janet Ayers, Department of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University. Partnering for Land Use Sustainability - (PIs) Jeff Dukes, Richard Farnsworth, Reuben Goforth, Thomas Hook, Bill Hoover, Brian MacGowan, Bob McCormick, Bryan Pijanowski, Linda Prokopy, Lindsey Purcell, Marisol Sepulveda, Guofon Shao, and Rob Swihart (Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University); other contributors: Jarrod Doucette, Andriy Zhalnin (Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University). Collaborators within Purdue University include the Center for the Environment, Center for Regional Development; and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant. Partnering organizations includes NICHES land trust, Wabash River Enhancement Corporation, Tippecanoe Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Sustainable Hardwood Ecosystems - (PIs) Dan Cassens, Robert Chapman, John B. Dunning, Jr., Lenny Farlee, Eva Haviarova, Bill Hoover, Doug Jacobs, Michael Jenkins, Brian MacGowan, Charles Michler, George Parker, Phil Pope, Ron Rathfon, Michael Saunders, Guofan Shao, Rob Swihart, Harmon Weeks, Jr., Patrick Zollner (Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University); other contributors: Don Carlson, Rebecca Kalb, Cortney Mycroft (Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University). Partnering organizations include Ball State University, Drake University, Indiana State University, Indiana Division of Forestry, Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife, the Nature Conservancy, and U. S. Forest Service. TARGET AUDIENCES: The Natural Resources Leaders Development Institute is designed for leaders from any of the natural resources and environmental fields in both public agencies and private industry. The participants also have a commitment to seeking collaborative, consensus-based processes. The Partnering for Land Use Sustainability targets natural resource and economic planning officials from soil and water conservation districts, county planning departments, consultants, extension, farm bureau, and planning staff in state government. Training programs educate and involve these groups in the program development. The Sustainable Hardwoods Ecosystems area targeted public forestland managers and non-industrial private forestland owners. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The Local Decision Maker (http://ldm.agriculture.purdue.edu/) is a powerful decision support system for comprehensive planning. The LDM is a joint effort among research and engagement experts from Purdue's Center for the Environment, Center for Regional Development, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, Purdue Extension, Forestry and Natural Resources and Agricultural Economics. Its purpose is to improve comprehensive planning at the county level, allowing planning units to write plans that balance their economic, natural resource, social and cultural objectives. During the reporting period, a total of fifty-eight (58) workshops and presentations were made to 8,848 county planning officials, school corporation officials, soil and water conservation staff, farm bureau administrators, and natural resource and economic development state staff. Over 1,500 participants demonstrated an increased knowledge of options available to them and used the results to determine critical areas for implementation effort which is expected to lead to a cleaner environment. Indiana's forests form the basis of the fifth largest industry in Indiana, employing almost 50,000 people. However, Indiana's forests also provide many ecological functions. Workshops, field days, web content and printed media focused on sustainability of forest values and compatible management practices. We held 59 workshops, confereences and field days at the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment (http://HEEForestStudy.org) sites and other demonstration forests which were attended by 1,615 woodland owners and natural resources professionals. Of this group, 544 demonstrated an increased knowledge of the benefits of various forest stewardship practices which impacted an estimated 6,395 acres of woodlands. RREA funds in part produced in partnership with many state and federal partners six issues of the Indiana Woodland Steward mailed to over 32,000 forest landowners. Articles featured stewardship practices, timber price reports, invasive species control, forest wildlife management, and more.
Publications
- Davis, A. 2009. Sustainable land use systems and GIS. PhD Dissertation. Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.
- Rathfon, R., D. Jacobs, and L. Farlee. 2009. Planting Forest Trees and Shrubs in Indiana, FNR-IDNR-36, Purdue University Extension.
- Thompson, Aaron W. 2010. Views of Agriculture: Understanding Farmers Attitudes to Identify Strategies for Improving Rural Landscape Planning. PhD Dissertation, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.
|
Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The Department of Forestry and Natural Resources continued work on two areas of excellence - Sustaining Hardwood Ecosystems and Industries, and Partnering for Land Use Sustainability. These Areas of Excellence are devoted to synergistic, interdisciplinary activities that unify and integrate FNR faculty interests and expertise towards impacting critical natural resources issues. The Partnering for Land Use Sustainability (PLUS) Area has focused on the further development of the web-based Local Decision Maker (LDM) (http://purdue.edu/ldm). The LDM was updated to include (1) education data from the 2009 and 2010 statewide database and (2) cost of community services (COCS). The LDM is a joint effort among research and engagement experts from Purdue's Center for the Environment, Center for Regional Development, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, Purdue Extension, Forestry and Natural Resources and Agricultural Economics. Its purpose is to improve comprehensive planning at the county level, allowing planning units to write plans that balance their economic, natural resource, social and cultural objectives. A retreat was held in December of 2010 to discuss long term planning and use of LDM. Also, co-director of PLUS Pijanowski gave a presentation of LDM to economic development extension professional at a national meeting in March 2011. A survey of agricultural education extension professionals was implemented to determine the type of natural resource and environmental information of interest to the planning community, and the most efficient way to provide it. LDM can have the most impact if it assists in the decisions made about zoning variances; residential, commercial and industrial developments; and planned unit developments. In Indiana a development must be approved if it meets set criteria, creating an additional challenge. Most significantly, these decisions are made at the tract level. Providing data and analyses at this level will require a major effort in the further development of the PLUS and LDM programs. A follow-up survey will focus on the role of landscape level information in making tract level decisions and the use of indicators in making decisions. The Sustaining Hardwood Ecosystems Area continued work on the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment (HEE), a long term study focused on understanding sustainable timber management and applying what we learn to public and private forestland. The HEE hosted several events for Indiana Chapter of the Society of American Foresters, the Nature of Teaching 2011 summer course, and private woodland owners. Eighty-five people attended these on-site workshops. Information and results of the HEE were included in two issues of the email publication, the HEE Update. The RREA program in Indiana also helped produce three issues of the Woodland Steward, a 16-page publication directly mailed to over 32,000 non-industrial private woodland owners in Indiana. PARTICIPANTS: Many individuals and organizations who worked on projects supported by RREA funds at Purdue University and are presented program area. Sustainable Land Use Systems - (PIs) Bryan Pijanowski (Co-Chair), Bill Hoover (Co-Chair), Jarrod Doucette, Jeff Dukes, Reuben Goforth, Tomas Hook, Brian MacGowan, Bob McCormick, Linda Prokopy, Lindsey Purcell, Marisol Sepulveda, and Guofon Shao, and Rob Swihart (Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University). Collaborators within Purdue University include the Center for the Environment, Center for Regional Development; and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, Purdue Cooperative Extension Service, and the Departments of Forestry and Natural Resources and Agricultural Economics. Partnering organizations include NICHES Land Trust, Wabash River Enhancement Corporation, Purdue University Facilities, Tippecanoe County Soil and Water Conservation Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service Sustainable Hardwood Ecosytems - (PIs) Mike Saunders (Co-Chair), John B. Dunning, Jr. (Co-Chair), Dan Cassens, Don Carlson, Robert Chapman, Lenny Farlee, Doug Jacobs, Eva Haviarova, Michael Jenkins, Rebecca Kalb, Brian MacGowan, Charles Michler, Ron Rathfon, and Rob Swihart, (Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University). Partnering organizations include Ball State University, Drake University, Indiana State University, Indiana Division of Forestry, Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife, Manchester College, the Nature Conservancy, and U. S. Forest Service. TARGET AUDIENCES: The Partnering Land Use Systems targets natural resource and economic planning officials from soil and water conservation districts, county planning departments, consultants, extension, farm bureau, and planning staff in state government. Training programs educate and involve these groups in the program development. The Sustainable Hardwoods Ecosystems area has targeted public forestland managers and non-industrial private forestland owners separately since each requires and utilizes different resources. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Land Conversion, Fragmentation and Parcelization - Monthly hits of the LDM web site continue to increase. For example, the month of April 2011 generated the following activity: over 49,000 hits (outside Purdue campus), average page views per visitor (46), and total number of unique visitors (100). Most active cities included: Indianapolis, Bloomington, Rensselaer, Portage, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Valparaiso, Kokomo, Rochester, Romney and Michigan City. Over a dozen economic development professionals from other states are now aware of LDM and its use in planning in the state of Indiana. Over 250 ecologists are aware that Purdue is leading a large effort to bring research products to planning offices across Indiana. The LDM allows users to determine natural resources areas of critical importance which is expected to lead to cleaner environments and sustainable and healthy ecosystems. Forest Stewardship and Health - Programs under RREA led to increased awareness or knowledge of how to improve the health and sustainability of forest resources by 85 landowners and natural resources professionals at 3 workshops and field days. This is expected to lead to adoption of forest stewardship practices that benefit timber, wildlife and other forest resources. Over 32,000 non-industrial private forest landowners throughout the state were mailed three issues of the Woodland Steward increasing their understanding and awareness of forest management, wildlife, invasive species control, and forest-related economic information (e.g., taxes and lumber prices).
Publications
- Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment, The HEE Update, Volume 3, Issue 3, Fall 2010. Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment, The HEE Update, Volume 4, Issue 1, Spring 2011. MacGowan, B. J., editor. 2010. The Woodland Steward, Vol. 19, no. 3, 16 pp. MacGowan, B. J., editor. 2011. The Woodland Steward, Vol. 20, no. 1, 16pp. MacGowan, B. J., editor. 2011. The Woodland Steward, Vol. 20, no. 2, 16pp.
|
Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The Department of Forestry and Natural Resources continued work on two areas of excellence - Sustaining Hardwood Ecosystems and Industries, and Partnering for Land Use Sustainability. These Areas of Excellence are devoted to synergistic, interdisciplinary activities that unify and integrate FNR faculty interests and expertise. The Partnering for Land Use Sustainability Area continued expansion of the Local Community Decision Maker (LDM) (http://purdue.edu/ldm) and 4 educational workshops that directly targeted county planning officials, school corporation officials, soil and water conservation staff, farm bureau administrators, and natural resource and economic development state staff. The LDM was updated to include several additional GIS data layers regarding the environment and landuse (e.g., locations of CAFOs operations, future land use projections). We created maps of parking lot footprints for the Great Lakes states of Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana. The LDM is a joint effort among research and engagement experts from Purdue's Center for the Environment, Center for Regional Development, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, Purdue Extension, Forestry and Natural Resources and Agricultural Economics. Its purpose is to improve comprehensive planning at the county level, allowing planning units to write plans that balance their economic, natural resource, social and cultural objectives. The Sustaining Hardwood Ecosystems Area continued work on the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment (HEE), a long term study focused on understanding sustainable timber management and applying what we learn to public and private forestland. Outputs from this project during this fiscal year included 14 educational events (field days, workshops, conferences). PARTICIPANTS: Many individuals and organizations who worked on projects supported by RREA funds at Purdue University and are presented program area. Sustainable Land Use Systems - (PIs) Bryan Pijanowski (Co-Chair), Linda Prokopy (Co-Chair), Shannon Amberg, Paul Brown, Jeff Dukes, Richard Farnsworth, Reuben Goforth, Tomas Hook, Bill Hoover, Bob McCormick, Helen Rowe, Marisol Sepulveda, Guofon Shao, and Rob Swihart (Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University); other contributors: Jarrod Doucette (Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University). Collaborators within Purdue University include the Center for the Environment, Center for Regional Development; and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, Purdue Cooperative Extension Service, and the Departments of Forestry and Natural Resources and Agricultural Economics. Partnering organizations include NICHES Land Trust, Wabash River Enhancement Corporation, Purdue University Facilities, Tippecanoe County Soil and Water Conservation Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service. Sustainable Hardwood Ecosytems - (PIs) Doug Jacobs (Co-Chair), John B. Dunning, Jr. (Co-Chair), Shannon Amberg, Eva Haviarova, Bill Hoover, Phil Pope, Ron Rathfon, Michael Saunders, Guofan Shao, Rob Swihart, Harmon Weeks, Jr., Rod Williams, Patrick Zollner (Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University); other contributors: Don Carlson, Brian MacGowan, Rebecca Kalb (Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University). Partnering organizations include Ball State University, Drake University, Indiana State University, Indiana Division of Forestry, Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife, Manchester College, the Nature Conservancy, and U. S. Forest Service. TARGET AUDIENCES: The Sustainable Land Use Systems targets natural resource and economic planning officials from soil and water conservation districts, county planning departments, consultants, extension, farm bureau, and planning staff in state government. Training programs educate and involve these groups in the program development. The Sustainable Hardwoods Ecosystems area has targeted public forestland managers and non-industrial private forestland owners separately since each requires and utilizes different resources. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Land Conversion, Fragmentation, and Parcelization - As a direct result of the 4 workshops held 40 individuals increased their awareness of the consequences of growth and development on maintaining sustainable and healthy ecosystems, and their knowledge of options available to them to minimize land use conversion of forests and wildlands. Participants in watershed planning effort used the results to determine critical areas for implementation effort. This is expected to lead to a cleaner environment. Presentations by Planning for Power at county planning workshops were made that showcased the new data layers. Planners learned about potential land use changes that might occur in their community and how these would potentially impact natural resources. Forest Stewardship and Health - Programs under RREA led to increased awareness or knowledge of how to improve the health and sustainability of forest resources by 184 landowners and natural resources professionals at 14 workshops and field days. This is expected to lead to adoption of forest stewardship practices that benefit timber, wildlife and other forest resources. Over 32,000 non-industrial private forest landowners throughout the state were mailed three issues of the Woodland Steward increasing their understanding and awareness of forest management, wildlife, invasive species control, and forest-related economic information (e.g., taxes and lumber prices).
Publications
- Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment, The HEE Update, Volume 2, Issue 3, Fall 2009.
- Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment, The HEE Update, Volume 2, Issue 4, Winter 2009.
- Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment, The HEE Update, Volume 3, Issue 1, Spring 2010.
- Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment, The HEE Update, Volume 3, Issue 2, Summer 2010.
- Thompson, Aaron W. 2010. Views of Agriculture: Understanding Farmers' Attitudes to Identify Strategies for Improving Rural Landscape Planning. PhD Dissertation, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.
- Davis, A. 2009. Sustainable land use systems and GIS. PhD Dissertation. Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.
- MacGowan, B. J., editor. 2009. The Woodland Steward, Vol. 18, no. 3, 16 pp.
- MacGowan, B. J., editor. 2010. The Woodland Steward, Vol. 19, no. 1, 16pp.
- MacGowan, B. J., editor. 2010. The Woodland Steward, Vol. 19, no. 2, 16pp.
|
Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The Department of Forestry and Natural Resources has developed two areas of excellence - Sustaining Hardwood Ecosystems and Industries, and Partnering for Land Use Sustainability. These Areas of Excellence are devoted to synergistic, interdisciplinary activities that unify and integrate FNR faculty interests and expertise. The Partnering for Land Use Sustainability Area continued expansion of the Local Community Decision Maker (LDM) (http://purdue.edu/ldm) and held 27 educational events (workshops, presentations and poster sessions) that directly targeted county planning officials, school corporation officials, soil and water conservation staff, farm bureau administrators, and natural resource and economic development state staff. The LDM updated current data sets and added 14 economic variables, 10 new economic data sets, and 6 tax data sets. LDM is a joint effort among research and engagement experts from Purdue's Center for the Environment, Center for Regional Development, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, Purdue Extension, Forestry and Natural Resources and Agricultural Economics. Its purpose is to improve comprehensive planning at the county level, allowing planning units to write plans that balance their economic, natural resource, social and cultural objectives. The Sustaining Hardwood Ecosystems Area continued work on the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment (HEE), a long term study focused on understanding sustainable timber management and applying what we learn to public and private forestland. Outputs from this project during this fiscal year included 17 educational events (field days, workshops, conferences. The Hardwood ecosystem website (www.fnr.purdue.edu/HEE) was updated. PARTICIPANTS: Many individuals and organizations who worked on projects supported by RREA funds at Purdue University and are presented program area. Sustainable Land Use Systems - (PIs) Bryan Pijanowski (Co-Chair), Linda Prokopy (Co-Chair), Shannon Amberg, Paul Brown, Jeff Dukes, Richard Farnsworth, Reuben Goforth, Tomas Hook, Bill Hoover, Bob McCormick, Helen Rowe, Marisol Sepulveda, Guofon Shao, and Rob Swihart (Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University); other contributors: Jarrod Doucette (Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University). Collaborators within Purdue University include the Center for the Environment, Center for Regional Development; and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, Purdue Cooperative Extension Service, and the Departments of Forestry and Natural Resources and Agricultural Economics. Sustainable Hardwood Ecosytems - (PIs) Doug Jacobs (Co-Chair), John B. Dunning, Jr. (Co-Chair), Shannon Amberg, Eva Haviarova, Bill Hoover, Phil Pope, Ron Rathfon, Michael Saunders, Guofan Shao, Rob Swihart, Harmon Weeks, Jr., Rod Williams, Patrick Zollner (Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University); other contributors: Don Carlson, Brian MacGowan, Rebecca Kalb (Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University). Partnering organizations include Ball State University, Drake University, Indiana State University, Indiana Division of Forestry, Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife, Manchester College, the Nature Conservancy, and U. S. Forest Service. TARGET AUDIENCES: The Sustainable Land Use Systems targets natural resource and economic planning officials from soil and water conservation districts, county planning departments, consultants, extension, farm bureau, and planning staff in state government. Training programs educate and involve these groups in the program development. The Sustainable Hardwoods Ecosystems area has targeted public forestland managers and non-industrial private forestland owners separately since each requires and utilizes different resources. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Land Conversion, Fragmentation, and Parcelization - As a direct results of the 27 workshops held and seminars conducted 7,988 individuals increased their awareness of the consequences of growth and development on maintaining sustainable and healthy ecosystems, and their knowledge of options available to them to minimize land use conversion of forests and wildlands. Forest Stewardship and Health - approximately 34,000 non-industrial private forest landowners throughout the state were mailed three issues of the Woodland Steward increasing their understanding and awareness of forest management, wildlife, invasive species control, and forest-related economic information (e.g., taxes and lumber prices). Programs under RREA led to increased awareness or knowledge of how to improve the health and sustainability of forest resources by 1006 landowners and natural resources professionals at 17 workshops and field days.
Publications
- Packett, D. L., and J. B. Dunning. 2008. Small woodlots: important rest stops for migratory songbirds. Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service Publication FNR-401-W.
- Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment, The HEE Update, Volume 2, Issue 1, Spring 2009.
- Kalb, R. 2009. The Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment Year 3 Annual Report, Purdue University, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, West Lafayette, IN.
- MacGowan, B. J., editor. 2008. The Woodland Steward, Vol. 17, no. 3, 16 pp.
- MacGowan, B. J., editor. 2009. The Woodland Steward, Vol. 17, no. 1, 16pp.
- MacGowan, B. J., editor. 2009. The Woodland Steward, Vol. 17, no. 2, 16pp.
- Rathfon, R., D. Jacobs, and L. Farlee. 2009. Planting Forest Trees and Shrubs in Indiana, FNR-IDNR-36, Purdue University Extension.
|
Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The Natural Resources Leadership Development Institute program empowered natural resources professionals to resolve controversial environmental issues in a non-confrontational manner more effectively. The network of trained natural resource leaders from a broad range of resource specialties was expanded this past year. Thirty-five leaders were trained during FY 2008 over seven workshops. A total of 1,200 acres were impacted and resulted in an estimated $80,000 saved or earned. Leaders attending this training are increasingly coming from environmental agencies, especially those dealing with water quality and soil erosion. The Department of Forestry and Natural Resources has developed 2 signature areas (Sustaining Hardwood Ecosystems and Industries, and Sustainable Land Use Systems) that define areas of excellence where the Department will integrate research and extension activities over the next 6 years to maximize program impacts. The Sustainable Land Use Systems Area expanded the Local Community Decision Maker (LDM) (http://www.planningwithpower.org/DM/), and held 21 educational events (workshops, presentations and poster sessions) that directly targeted natural resource and economic planning officials from soil and water conservation districts, county planning departments, consultants, extension, farm bureau, and planning staff in state government. LDM is a joint effort among research and engagement experts from the Center for the Environment, Center for Regional Development, Sea Grant, Purdue Extension, Forestry and Natural Resources and Agricultural Economics. Its purpose is to improve comprehensive planning at the county level, allowing planning units to write plans that balance their economic, natural resource, social and cultural objectives. The Sustaining Hardwood Ecosystems area continued work on the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment (HEE), a long term study focused on understanding sustainable timber management and applying what we learn to public and private forestland. Outputs from this project during this fiscal year included 10 presentations (state fair, seminars, workshops), HEE annual meeting, media day, and development of the website for which the general public and professionals can consult to understand the goals of the project and what we have learned (www.fnr.purdue.edu/HEE). PARTICIPANTS: Many individuals and organizations who worked on projects supported by RREA funds at Purdue University and are presented program area. Natural Resources Leadership Development Institute - (PD) Bill Hoover, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University, (PD) Janet Ayers, Department of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University. Partners include the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, the Nature Conservancy in Indiana, and USDA-NRCS in Indiana. Sustainable Land Use Systems - (PIs) Paul Brown, Bryan Pijanowski (Chair), Richard Farnsworth, Reuben Goforth, Bill Hoover, Linda Prokopy, Marisol Sepulveda, Guofon Shao, and Rob Swihart (Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University); other contributors: Andriy Zhalnin (Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University). Collaborators within Purdue University include the Center for the Environment, Center for Regional Development; and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, Purdue Cooperative Extension Service, and the Departments of Forestry and Natural Resources and Agricultural Economics. Sustainable Hardwood Ecosytems - (PIs) Doug Jacobs (Co-Chair), John B. Dunning, Jr. (Co-Chair), Eva Haviarova, Bill Hoover, George Parker, Phil Pope, Ron Rathfon, Michael Saunders, Guofan Shao, Rob Swihart, Harmon Weeks, Jr., Patrick Zollner (Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University); other contributors: Don Carlson, Brian MacGowan, Cortney Mycroft (Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University). Partnering organizations include Ball State University, Drake University, Indiana State University, Indiana Division of Forestry, Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife, the Nature Conservancy, and U. S. Forest Service. TARGET AUDIENCES: The Natural Resources Leaders Development Institute is designed for leaders from any of the natural resources and environmental fields in both public agencies and private industry. The participants also have a commitment to seeking collaborative, consensus-based processes. They provide an extensive annual training program that consists of three, 3-day workshops. The Sustainable Land Use Systems targets natural resource and economic planning officials from soil and water conservation districts, county planning departments, consultants, extension, farm bureau, and planning staff in state government. Training programs educate and involve these groups in the program development. The Sustainable Hardwoods Ecosystems area has targeted public forestland managers and non-industrial private forestland owners separately since each requires and utilizes different resources. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Forest Stewardship and Health - 34,000 non-industrial private landowners throughout the state received 2 issues of the Woodland Steward increasing their understanding and awareness of forest management, wildlife, invasive species control, and forest-related economic information. Programs under RREA led to increased awareness or knowledge of forest stewardship by 163 landowners owning 1,400 acres, and implementation of at least one new stewardship practice by 15 landowners. Land Conversion, Fragmentation, and Parcelization - 700 professionals were trained on how to use the decision support system through our demonstrations and responding to their questions; 268 interacted with the program directly by working on computers, testing the software, and asking us to develop specific maps or teaching them how to use some of the tools. Based on this feedback the Local Decision Maker (LDM) was enhanced and improved to meet user specific requirements. The LDM opened for public use and is being further refined through the 3 pilot counties.
Publications
- Howell, J. 2007. How the Spatial Distribution of the Student Population Affects School Transportation Costs in Indiana. Master of Science. Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN. 116 pages.
- MacGowan, B. J., editor. 2008. The Woodland Steward, Vol. 17, no. 1, 16 pp.
- MacGowan, B. J., editor. 2008. The Woodland Steward, Vol. 17, no. 2, 16pp.
- Mycroft, C. 2008. The Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment Year 2 Annual Report, Purdue University, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, West Lafayette, IN.
|
Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The Natural Resources Leadership Development Institute program empowered natural resources professionals to resolve controversial environmental issues in a non-confrontational manner more effectively. The network of trained natural resource leaders from a broad range of resource specialties was expanded this past year. Forty-two leaders were trained during FY 2007 over nine workshops. A total of 450 acres were impacted and resulted in an estimated $25,000 saved or earned. The Department of Forestry and Natural Resources has developed 2 signature areas (Sustaining Hardwood Ecosystems and Industries, and Sustainable Land Use Systems) that define areas of excellence where the Department will integrate research and extension activities over the next 6 years to maximize program impacts. The Sustainable Land Use Systems Area developed the Local Community Decision Maker web site (http://www.planningwithpower.org/DM/), held six training events for 40 community leaders and 80
citizens, and began pilot testing with 3 counties. The Sustaining Hardwood Ecosystems area conducted 3 forestry and wildlife field days on FNR properties for 72 woodland owners, held an 8-week forestry short course for 23 forestland owners (2,520 acres), and held a 1-day workshop on forest sustainability for 65 foresters, wildlife biologists, public land managers, and private woodland owners.
PARTICIPANTS: Many individuals and organizations who worked on projects supported by RREA funds at Purdue University and are presented program area. Natural Resources Leadership Development Institute - (PD) Bill Hoover, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University, (PD) Janet Ayers, Department of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University. Sustainable Land Use Systems - (PIs) Paul Brown, Bryan Pijanowski (Chair), Richard Farnsworth, Reuben Goforth, Bill Hoover, Linda Prokopy, Marisol Sepulveda, Guofon Shao, and Rob Swihart (Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University); other contributors: Andriy Zhalnin (Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University). Collaborators within Purdue University include the Center for the Environment, Center for Regional Development; and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant. Sustainable Hardwood Ecosytems - (PIs) Doug Jacobs (Co-Chair), John B. Dunning, Jr. (Co-Chair), Eva Haviarova, Bill Hoover, George
Parker, Phil Pope, Ron Rathfon, Michael Saunders, Guofan Shao, Rob Swihart, Harmon Weeks, Jr., Patrick Zollner (Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University); other contributors: Don Carlson, Brian MacGowan, Cortney Mycroft (Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University). Partnering organizations include Ball State University, Drake University, Indiana State University, Indiana Division of Forestry, Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife, the Nature Conservancy, and U. S. Forest Service.
TARGET AUDIENCES: The Natural Resources Leaders Development Institute is geared to men and women who represent a geographic cross-section of the state as well as various state and federal agencies and NGO's with a stake in the sustainability of natural resources. The participants also have a commitment to seeking collaborative, consensus-based processes. They provide an extensive annual training program that consists of three, 3-day workshops. The Sustainable Land Use Systems targets community leaders, land use planners, and engaged citizens. They have held 6 training programs in educate and involve their target audience in the program development. As a result, 3 counties in Indiana have agreed to serve as pilot counties that will test, evaluate and modify the GIS modeling software on the Local Community Decision Maker web site. The Sustainable Hardwoods Ecosystems area has targeting public forestland managers and non-industrial private forestland owners separately since each has
different needs and resources. Public land managers attended a 1-day workshop that continued to build on the collaborative nature of the program and allowed input into the project design and deliverables. Members with this area continue to offer more traditional field workshops for non-industrial private forestland owners and articles in the Woodland Steward newsletter.
Impacts
Forest Stewardship and Health - 247 forestland owners and managers utilized extension resources and programs and 23 were trained to develop forest stewardship plans; at least 10 landowners implemented a least one stewardship practice on their property, and an estimated $25,000 were saved or earned. Economic Opportunities for Individuals and Communities - 180 direct and indirect contacts with citizens increased their awareness of natural resources economic opportunities; and 70 direct and indirect contacts with community leaders led to an increased awareness of economic opportunities. Land Conversion, Fragmentation, and Parcelization - 40 community leaders and 80 citizens utilized extension resources to address the impacts of land conversion; and 3 communities are exploring practices or policies that balance local needs for natural working lands and economic development.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
|