Indiana Forest Alliance

The latest controversy involves massive clearing projects in the Hoosier National Forest, fueled by a belief that oak and hickory trees — which dominate Indiana forests and sustain specific species of wildlife — require disturbances like burning or logging in order to regenerate.

The project aims to improve the health of the forest but environmental groups and some nearby residents have concerns about the clear cutting, burning and herbicide use.

Lake Monroe is the only source of drinking water for roughly 120,000 people in the area. Large scale logging and burning operations performed by Hoosier National Forest would affect the watershed.

The Indiana Forest Alliance has come up with a strategy for how to better protect urban forests in Indianapolis. The group said urban forests help cool cities, capture stormwater, improve air quality and trap greenhouse gas emissions.

The strategy report said while there has been a big effort to plant trees in Indianapolis, there needs to be more of effort to protect and maintain them.

The U.S. Forest Service is evaluating several patches of land within the Hoosier National Forest, to determine whether some of the trees need to be replaced.