Public News Service

A report analyzing the Lower Fall Creek and Pleasant Run Region by the White River Alliance says stream assessments reveal 53% of evaluated waterways do not meet state water quality standards.<br />(Adobe Stock)

Wetlands at stake in southside Indy industrial development

Residents living directly south of Indianapolis could see their water quality change with a proposed land-use project that's getting some pushback…

An environmental advocate says nature and quiet spaces are important to businesses looking for new locations to expand or build. (Adobe stock)

Indiana Scores Record Conservation Funding in Polarized Statehouse

As dust settles from the 2023 Indiana legislative session, Hoosiers may discover lawmakers made some decisions with which members from both sides of …

According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, 94% of Hoosiers live within five miles of a pedestrian trail. (Adobe Stock)

IN Officials Announce $65 Million for New Pedestrian Trails

Gov. Eric Holcomb has announced $65 million to fund new pedestrian infrastructure in Indiana. The grant money, distributed as part of Indiana's …

Milkweed is a necessary part of the monarch breeding cycle, as caterpillars can only eat from that specific plant. Due to human disruption, the prevalence of milkweed has dropped, impacting the butterfly's breeding process. (Adobe Stock)

Federal Bill Could Stabilize IN Monarch Butterfly Population

The number of Midwestern monarch butterflies has declined rapidly in recent decades, but a new bill pending in Congress could stabilize their …

Bats are slow to reproduce, which makes it difficult to recover disturbed populations. (Ryan Hodnett/Flickr)

Expert: Don't Give Bats a Bad Rap

INDIANAPOLIS - Halloween has given bats a bad rap, and bats' reported connection to the origins of COVID-19 has certainly not helped. However…

An average volume of 14 million board feet of timber annually is prescribed to be sold from Indiana state forests between 2015 and 2019. (Indiana Forest Alliance)

Time is Short to Comment on Timber Harvest in Indiana State Forests

INDIANAPOLIS – An attempt to save acres of Indiana forests failed in the legislature this year, but Hoosiers still have the chance to voice …

Many of the EPA regulations that Scott Pruitt scrapped or delayed as EPA administrator had not yet taken effect before his resignation. (Wikimedia Commons)

Government Watchdog Groups: Pruitt's EPA Exit "Long Overdue"

WASHINGTON – After allegedly overspending on everything from pens to lavish trips and accepting questionable deals from lobbyists, government …

Advocates are asking for more oversight of confined animal feeding operations. (hecweb.org)

Bill Watch: Hoosier Lawmakers Tackle Environmental Issues

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana lawmakers will consider several bills that are important to the environment this legislative session. They cover solar…

A timber sale in some of Indiana's most popular forests begins on Nov. 9. (Dave Simcox)

Old Trees Targeted in Upcoming Timber Sale

BROWN COUNTY, Ind. – As the date approaches for the start of logging of 300 acres in the Yellowwood Backcountry Area of Indiana, Brown County …

Volunteers tag Monarchs though programs sponsored by the Indiana Wildlife Federation. (indianawildlife.org)

Trump Budget Called Threat to Indiana Waterways

INDIANAPOLIS -- An effort to save Indiana's waterways is under way. It's part of a push by the National Wildlife Federation to combat negative …

Logging has caused erosion at Yellowwood State Forest. (ifa.org)

Plea: Don't Cut Our Old-Growth Forests

NASHVILLE, Ind. – When people are asked to name the most beautiful area of Indiana, Brown County is the answer most often given. People who …

A clearcut in Pike State Forest in southwestern Indiana. (Greg Clarke)

Indiana Could Learn Logging Practices from Neighboring States

INDIANAPOLIS – States that neighbor Indiana are protecting their old forests, and conservation advocates want to know why the Hoosier State …

The Veterans Administration recently backed off of a plan to cut down ancient trees in Indiana to make way for a memorial. (Virginia Carter)

Effort Under Way to Set Aside Old-Growth Forests in Every County

NASHVILLE, Ind. – An effort is under way to designate an old-growth forest in every county in the United States that has forestland. The Old-…

Hikers along the Knobstone Trail and others are finding areas that have been logged and clear cut. (Indiana Forest Alliance)

Hikers Question Logging in Hoosier Forests

INDIANAPOLIS – Logging in state forests in Indiana has been stepped up, and that's not sitting well with hikers. The state ranks ninth in the …

Migrating sandhill cranes at the Jasper Pulaski Fish and Wildlife area depend on Indiana's public lands. (in.gov)

Indiana's Natural Resources Need a Champion

INDIANAPOLIS – Environmental groups say they're worried whether President-elect Donald Trump's pick for U.S. Secretary of the Interior will be …

A new report details the impact coal mining has on the country in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. (in.gov)

Report: Coal Mining Accounts for 11% of Greenhouse Gas

INDIANAPOLIS – A new report acknowledges that coal mined on public land accounts for 11 percent of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. A year …

An inventory of Indiana's older forests already has identified more than 1,250 species, with hundreds more still being tallied. (Indiana Forest Alliance)

Is Logging Liquidating Biodiversity in Indiana Forests?

INDIANAPOLIS - Scientists have spent the past few years in some of Indiana's older forests, trying to inventory flora, fauna and wildlife before the …

A conference is under way this week with the aim of making sure the presidential candidates protect the Great Lakes. (wisconsin.gov)

Candidates Being Called On at Great Lakes Meeting

INDIANAPOLIS – Whether the winner is Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump, a broad coalition is hoping that whoever takes the White House is a …

The presidential candidates are being asked to take a stand to protect public lands. (DNR)

Presidential Candidates Urged to Keep Public Lands Affordable

INDIANAPOLIS – The presidential contenders are being asked to take a stand on public lands. Members of 40 environmental and sportsman groups …

A new study indicates more retailers are selling plants that are bee-friendly, allowing home gardeners to plant flowers that aren't toxic to honeybees. (Kapa65/Pixabay)

Study: Retailers Switching to "Bee-Friendly" Plants

INDIANAPOLIS — New tests found significant decreases in the use of bee-killing pesticides on "bee-friendly" plants. That’s good news for …

A proposed greenway project would run along the White River between Muncie and Anderson. (Veronica Carter)

Support Sought for Large Greenway Project

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - A study by one of the country's leading planning firms reveals that a proposed linear park and trail system along the White …

Indiana has three National Park Service units and more than two dozen state parks. (stateparks.com)

A Call for More Diversity in the Nation's Parks

INDIANAPOLIS – As the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service nears, a coalition of civil rights and conservation groups is calling for …

The Monarch butterfly is disappearing but home gardeners can help by planting milkweed, which is its only breeding habitat. (U.S Fish and Wildlife Service)

Plant Some Milkweed, Save a Butterfly

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Scientists who have been analyzing data collected on monarch butterflies got a bit of good news recently. There were more of …

Indiana was able to set 1,330 acres aside last year for wildlife habitat with federal wildlife restoration money. (Lorie Tuter)

More Than 1,300 Acres Bought in Indiana with Wildlife-Restoration Money

INDIANAPOLIS - Money from taxes on guns, ammunition and fishing equipment is being doled out to all 50 states to be used to help protect fishing…

There are 38 nuclear reactors on the Great Lakes, and a watchdog group says more people need to get involved in the effort to protect our water. (Nuclear Energy Information Service)

Keeping an Eye on Nuclear Waste in the Great Lakes

INDIANAPOLIS – Between Canada and the United States there are 38 nuclear reactors on the Great Lakes, and a watchdog group says if something …

Work will begin in the spring to restore habitat around Lake George in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. (Save the Dunes)

Protecting Indiana's Biggest Natural Resource

INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore hugs 15 miles of the southern shore of Lake Michigan and is the state's biggest tourist attraction…

The smooth green snake is a tiny nonvenomous snake found in Indiana. It's getting extra attention from conservation groups in the Midwest because its habitat is threatened. (Chicago Wilderness)

Conservation Groups Helping Midwest Animal Species

INDIANAPOLIS – Twelve animal species that call the Midwest home are being championed by Chicago Wilderness, which is made up of more than 200 …

The Indiana Forest Alliance warns without greater protections, in another decade, there won't be any state forest lands that haven't been logged. (Veronica Carter)

Indiana Forests: No Lessons Learned from The Lorax

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Forest Alliance has a vision of old growth forests being preserved for wildlife, and people who love nature to enjoy…

The Land and Water Conservation Fund helps protect Hoosier National Forest. Credit: U.S. Forest Service

Fight Continues to Protect Indiana's Natural Crown Jewels

INDIANAPOLIS - Conservation groups are not giving up their fight to continue a program that supports some of the natural crown jewels of Indiana and t…

A report shows how U.S. presidents could keep carbon-based fuels from being extracted on publicly-owned lands. Credit: Kenn W. Kiser/Morguefile

Report: Presidency is a Power Tool to Fight Climate Change

INDIANAPOLIS - A new report from the Center for Biological Diversity highlights how President Barack Obama, or any other sitting president, has legal …

A NWF poll found most agree that Clean Water Act rules should apply to small waterways. Credit Tim Lindenbaum/Flickr

Poll Finds Hunters and Anglers Value Smaller Waterways

INDIANAPOLIS - When it comes to keeping small streams and wetlands clean, there's little controversy among hunters and anglers. A new poll …

PHOTO: The whooping crane is among the birds in Indiana on the federal Endangered Species list. A new survey shows the Endangered Species Act has a 90 percent approval rating among voters. Photo courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Endangered Species Act Popular, Survey Finds

INDIANAPOLIS - The Endangered Species Act turns out to be popular among voters, and in a positive way, according to a recent survey. Ninety percent …

PHOTO: The monarch butterfly is one of the species found in Indiana that are listed in a new report about plants and animals experiencing dramatic population declines. Photo credit: Dendroica cerulea/Flickr.

Endangered Species Coalition Warns Next Generation May Never See Some Species

INDIANAPOLIS - It's a case of the common becoming uncommon in a new report from the Endangered Species Coalition. The report lists 10 species that …

PHOTO: Environmental groups are proposing a ready-to-implement plan called The Mounds Greenway to protect the West Fork of the White River, and leave it as a free-flowing river. Photo courtesy of Heart of the River.

Alternate Plan Offered to Protect Central Indiana River

ANDERSON, Ind. - Opponents of the proposed Mounds Lake Reservoir in central Indiana say they have an alternative plan that would save the free-…

PHOTO: The Hoosier Environmental Council says the reservoir that would be created by damming the West Fork White River would harm the environment and Indiana's recreation and tourism. Photo courtesy moundslake.org.

Indiana Group: Proposed Dam Threatens Environment, Recreation

INDIANAPOLIS – Environmental groups in Indiana warn there would be long-lasting impacts if the proposed Mounds Lake Reservoir northeast of India…

PHOTO: July is National Park and Recreation Month, an initiative designed to encourage residents to spend more time enjoying and exploring the outdoors at spots like Clifty Falls State Park in Jefferson County. Photo courtesy of Indiana State Parks and Reservoirs.

Hoosiers Urged to Enjoy Great Outdoors Throughout July

INDIANAPOLIS - Hoosiers are being encouraged to venture beyond their homes and offices this month, and head into the state's outdoors during National …

PHOTO: Maintaining a healthy and diverse bird population in North America means paying more attention to what's happening far to the north, in Canada's boreal forest. Photo courtesy Boreal Songbird Initiative. Photo credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/ Bill Buchanan.

A Weekend to Celebrate Indiana's Feathered Friends

INDIANAPOLIS – From hummingbirds to wood warblers, Indiana is seeing large waves of birds as they migrate from the south right now. A new …

PHOTO: Carrie Vollmer-Sanders of Indiana was honored as a

Indiana Woman Honored by Obama as a “Champion of Change”

WASHINGTON – An Indiana woman's efforts to protect Lake Erie from fertilizer runoff have won her a special distinction. President Barack …

PHOTO: Indiana's deer population is growing, and with it come concerns about overgrazing forests and increased risk of car-deer collisions on the roadways. Experts say it will take compromise and a coordinated effort to find the best solution. Photo credit: Matt Miller, The Nature Conservancy.

Expert Weighs In on Indiana's Deer Dilemma

INDIANAPOLIS - Many Hoosiers consider deer to be majestic creatures in nature, but some conservationists are voicing concerns about the dangers of …

PHOTO: Man in a deer stand. Conservation is just as important as gun rights, according to a new poll of sportsmen. Photo credit: Steve Maslowski, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Poll: Public Lands Access, Preservation Should be Priorities

INDIANAPOLIS - Conservation is just as important as gun rights, according to a new poll of sportsmen by the National Wildlife Federation. Nearly half …

IN Forest Restoration Part of New Management Guidelines

INDIANAPOLIS - Endangered animals, outdoor recreation and the timber industry could peacefully coexist in Hoosier National Forest under new …

Indiana Conservation Groups Await Word on Congressional Funding Cuts

INDIANAPOLIS - With less than three weeks to go for the congressional "super-committee" to find more than $1 trillion in deficit reductions, …

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