Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
THINGS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BRANDON,
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BRANDON, FOR THAT UPDATE.
FOR THAT UPDATE. >>> LOGGING IN INDIANA STATE
>>> LOGGING IN INDIANA STATE FOREST GENERATES MORE THAN
FOREST GENERATES MORE THAN $2.5 MILLION EACH YEAR.
$2.5 MILLION EACH YEAR. THE PRACTICE IS NOT NEW, BUT THE
THE PRACTICE IS NOT NEW, BUT THE INCREASE IS WORTH NOTING.
INCREASE IS WORTH NOTING. IN THE PAST DECADE, LOGGING IN
IN THE PAST DECADE, LOGGING IN THE STATE FOREST HAS INCREASED
THE STATE FOREST HAS INCREASED 1,000%.
1,000%. BUT DURING THIS TIME, ONE PART
BUT DURING THIS TIME, ONE PART OF THE FOREST HAS, AMONG MANY
OF THE FOREST HAS, AMONG MANY PEOPLE, GENERALLY BEEN
PEOPLE, GENERALLY BEEN CONSIDERED OFF LIMITS.
CONSIDERED OFF LIMITS. IT'S THE BACK COUNTRY, AN AREA
IT'S THE BACK COUNTRY, AN AREA THAT WAS DESIGNATED AS A PLACE
THAT WAS DESIGNATED AS A PLACE FOR A WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE.
FOR A WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE. BUT NOW THERE'S LOGGING GOING ON
BUT NOW THERE'S LOGGING GOING ON THERE AND LEGISLATION AND STATE
THERE AND LEGISLATION AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE IS PROPOSING THAT
REPRESENTATIVE IS PROPOSING THAT WOULD STOP IT LIKELY WON'T GO
WOULD STOP IT LIKELY WON'T GO ANYWHERE THIS SESSION.
ANYWHERE THIS SESSION. SARA WITTMEYER HAS THE STORY.
SARA WITTMEYER HAS THE STORY. >> JERRY SAYS HIS PROPERTY IS A
>> JERRY SAYS HIS PROPERTY IS A LOT LIKE AN ISLAND.
LOT LIKE AN ISLAND. HE'S SURROUNDED ON ALL SIDES BY
HE'S SURROUNDED ON ALL SIDES BY THE MORGAN MONROE STATE FOREST.
THE MORGAN MONROE STATE FOREST. >> WE ARE OUTDOORSY PEOPLE.
>> WE ARE OUTDOORSY PEOPLE. I'M OUT IN THE FOREST HIKING,
I'M OUT IN THE FOREST HIKING, WALKING, WALKING MY DOGS.
WALKING, WALKING MY DOGS. >> HE THINKS THE STATE HAS AN
>> HE THINKS THE STATE HAS AN OBLIGATION TO PRESERVE THE
OBLIGATION TO PRESERVE THE FOREST.
FOREST. STATE OFFICIALS AGREE.
STATE OFFICIALS AGREE. BUT THEY HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS
BUT THEY HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS ABOUT EXACTLY HOW TO DO THAT.
ABOUT EXACTLY HOW TO DO THAT. >> WE LOOK AT ALL OF THE
>> WE LOOK AT ALL OF THE ATTRIBUTES THAT THE FOREST
ATTRIBUTES THAT THE FOREST PROVIDES, RECREATION, WILDLIFE,
PROVIDES, RECREATION, WILDLIFE, ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES.
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES. WE MANAGE WITH THAT CONCEPT IN
WE MANAGE WITH THAT CONCEPT IN MIND, THAT WE ARE GOING TO
MIND, THAT WE ARE GOING TO PROVIDE THE MOST BIOLOGICAL
PROVIDE THE MOST BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY THAT WE CAN.
DIVERSITY THAT WE CAN. SO TO GET THAT, IF YOU LEFT THE
SO TO GET THAT, IF YOU LEFT THE FOREST ALL AGE AT THE SAME TIME,
FOREST ALL AGE AT THE SAME TIME, TO BE WHAT SOME PEOPLE MIGHT
TO BE WHAT SOME PEOPLE MIGHT CONSIDER OLD GROWTH, YOU WON'T
CONSIDER OLD GROWTH, YOU WON'T HAVE THAT DIVERSITY.
HAVE THAT DIVERSITY. >> IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN, THE
>> IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN, THE DNR'S DIVISION OF FORESTRY LISTS
DNR'S DIVISION OF FORESTRY LISTS AS THE NUMBER ONE GOAL THE
AS THE NUMBER ONE GOAL THE PROTECTION OF ALL FOREST
PROTECTION OF ALL FOREST RESOURCES.
RESOURCES. HE SAYS CUTTING TIMBER HELPS
HE SAYS CUTTING TIMBER HELPS SPEECHY DISTRIBUTION AND TREE
SPEECHY DISTRIBUTION AND TREE OVERCROWDING.
OVERCROWDING. HERE AT THE MORGAN MONROE STATE
HERE AT THE MORGAN MONROE STATE FOREST, THEY ARE RESEARCHING THE
FOREST, THEY ARE RESEARCHING THE EFFECTS OF FOREST MANAGEMENT ON
EFFECTS OF FOREST MANAGEMENT ON TREE REGENERATION AND FOREST
TREE REGENERATION AND FOREST SUSTAINABILITY.
SUSTAINABILITY. THIS AREA HAS BEEN CUT AND NOW
THIS AREA HAS BEEN CUT AND NOW SEIFERT IS WATCHING HOW IT GROWS
SEIFERT IS WATCHING HOW IT GROWS BACK.
BACK. >> WE ARE PLANTING INSTEAD OF
>> WE ARE PLANTING INSTEAD OF LETTING NATURE TAKE ITS PLACE.
LETTING NATURE TAKE ITS PLACE. WE ARE GOING IN AND PLANTING
WE ARE GOING IN AND PLANTING AFTER WE HARVEST A SITE LIKE
AFTER WE HARVEST A SITE LIKE THIS.
THIS. WE PLANT THE OAK SPECIES.
WE PLANT THE OAK SPECIES. IT WILL BE CONTROLLED.
IT WILL BE CONTROLLED. OUR GOAL IS TO CLOSE THE CANOPY
OUR GOAL IS TO CLOSE THE CANOPY QUICKLY SO ALL THE OTHER
QUICKLY SO ALL THE OTHER REGENERATION THAT WOULD BE
REGENERATION THAT WOULD BE COMPETITORS STARTS TO DIE OFF
COMPETITORS STARTS TO DIE OFF DUE TO LACK OF SUN LIGHT.
DUE TO LACK OF SUN LIGHT. >> THE STATE'S LOGGING POLICIES
>> THE STATE'S LOGGING POLICIES TRACE THEIR STEPS BACK TO 2004,
TRACE THEIR STEPS BACK TO 2004, WHEN MITCH DANIELS PUSHED FOR
WHEN MITCH DANIELS PUSHED FOR MORE PUBLIC AGENCIES TO FUND
MORE PUBLIC AGENCIES TO FUND THEIR OWN BUDGETS, INCLUDING THE
THEIR OWN BUDGETS, INCLUDING THE DNR'S DIVISION OF FORESTRY.
DNR'S DIVISION OF FORESTRY. >> I THINK IT'S HARD WHEN IT'S
>> I THINK IT'S HARD WHEN IT'S AN ECONOMIC-DRIVEN MANAGEMENT
AN ECONOMIC-DRIVEN MANAGEMENT STYLE IN THAT WHEN GOVERNOR
STYLE IN THAT WHEN GOVERNOR DANIELS TOOK OFFICE, HE SWITCHED
DANIELS TOOK OFFICE, HE SWITCHED THE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY OF THE
THE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF FORESTRY TO 9
DIVISION OF FORESTRY TO 9 POSITION THAT THEY NEEDED TO
POSITION THAT THEY NEEDED TO BRING IN ENOUGH REVENUE TO PAY
BRING IN ENOUGH REVENUE TO PAY FOR THEIR ORGANIZATION'S
FOR THEIR ORGANIZATION'S FUNCTIONS.
FUNCTIONS. IT'S MUCH MORE OF A BUSINESS
IT'S MUCH MORE OF A BUSINESS MODEL NOW.
MODEL NOW. >> OVER THE LAST DECADE, LOGGING
>> OVER THE LAST DECADE, LOGGING AND STATE FORESTS HAS INCREASED
AND STATE FORESTS HAS INCREASED 1,000%, FROM LESS THAN
1,000%, FROM LESS THAN 1.5 MILLION BOARD FEET, TO MORE
1.5 MILLION BOARD FEET, TO MORE THAN 14 MILLION BOARD FEET IN
THAN 14 MILLION BOARD FEET IN 2013.
2013. SEIFERT MAINTAINS THAT IN A VAST
SEIFERT MAINTAINS THAT IN A VAST MAJORITY OF CASES, THE STATE
MAJORITY OF CASES, THE STATE CONDUCTED SINGLE TREE SELECTION,
CONDUCTED SINGLE TREE SELECTION, OR CUTTING A TREE HERE AND A
OR CUTTING A TREE HERE AND A TREE THERE.
TREE THERE. >> WE ARE ONLY HARVESTING ABOUT
>> WE ARE ONLY HARVESTING ABOUT 60% OF WHAT WE ARE GROWING.
60% OF WHAT WE ARE GROWING. SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, WE
SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, WE ARE STILL ACCUMULATING.
ARE STILL ACCUMULATING. WE ARE STILL GROWING BIGGER
WE ARE STILL GROWING BIGGER TREES.
TREES. WE HAVE REALLY GOOD INVENTORY
WE HAVE REALLY GOOD INVENTORY DATA THAT SUPPORTS WHAT WE ARE
DATA THAT SUPPORTS WHAT WE ARE DOING.
DOING. >> BUT WHAT I THINK PEOPLE FIND
>> BUT WHAT I THINK PEOPLE FIND PARTICULARLY UPSETTING IS IT
PARTICULARLY UPSETTING IS IT SEEMS TO KNOW NO BOUNDARIES.
SEEMS TO KNOW NO BOUNDARIES. >> THIS IS THE BACK COUNTRY OF
>> THIS IS THE BACK COUNTRY OF THE YELLOWWOOD STATE FOREST.
THE YELLOWWOOD STATE FOREST. IT EXTENDS INTO THE MORGAN
IT EXTENDS INTO THE MORGAN MONROE STATE FOREST AND IT'S
MONROE STATE FOREST AND IT'S DIFFERENT THAN THE REST OF
DIFFERENT THAN THE REST OF FOREST.
FOREST. IN 1981, THE DNR AT THEN
IN 1981, THE DNR AT THEN GOVERNOR ROBERT ORR'S REQUEST
GOVERNOR ROBERT ORR'S REQUEST ESTABLISHED THE BACK COUNTRY AS
ESTABLISHED THE BACK COUNTRY AS AN AREA WHERE PEOPLE COULD ENJOY
AN AREA WHERE PEOPLE COULD ENJOY A RUGGED, PRIMITIVE EXPERIENCE.
A RUGGED, PRIMITIVE EXPERIENCE. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF RESTRICTIONS, SUCH AS YOU CAN
RESTRICTIONS, SUCH AS YOU CAN ONLY ACCESS THE AREA BY FOOT.
ONLY ACCESS THE AREA BY FOOT. THERE ARE NO ROADS, AND YOU
THERE ARE NO ROADS, AND YOU CAN'T HAVE HORSES.
CAN'T HAVE HORSES. ACCORDING TO A DNR PUBLICATION
ACCORDING TO A DNR PUBLICATION FROM 1981, USERS OF THESE AREAS
FROM 1981, USERS OF THESE AREAS MUST EXERCISE A GREAT DEAL OF
MUST EXERCISE A GREAT DEAL OF CAUTION TO NOT DISTURB THE
CAUTION TO NOT DISTURB THE NATURAL HABITAT.
NATURAL HABITAT. >> THEY ARE GOING TO BE A PLACE
>> THEY ARE GOING TO BE A PLACE FOR SOLITUDE AND REPOSE TO FIND
FOR SOLITUDE AND REPOSE TO FIND WHAT YOU CAN'T FIND ELSEWHERE.
WHAT YOU CAN'T FIND ELSEWHERE. >> ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT
>> ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT PROHIBITED BY LAW, THE AREA WAS
PROHIBITED BY LAW, THE AREA WAS NEVER LOGGED.
NEVER LOGGED. >> NOW WE HAVE CLEAR CUTTING AND
>> NOW WE HAVE CLEAR CUTTING AND LOGGING OCCURRING IN WHAT WAS
LOGGING OCCURRING IN WHAT WAS CONSIDERED THE MOST KIND OF
CONSIDERED THE MOST KIND OF IMPORTANT PART OF THE FOREST.
IMPORTANT PART OF THE FOREST. >> TWO YEARS AGO, LOGGERS CAME
>> TWO YEARS AGO, LOGGERS CAME IN AND CUT ABOUT 100 ACRES AT
IN AND CUT ABOUT 100 ACRES AT THE SOUTHERN END OF THE BACK
THE SOUTHERN END OF THE BACK COUNTRY.
COUNTRY. IT WAS UNPRECEDENTED AND IT'S
IT WAS UNPRECEDENTED AND IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN NOW AT THE
HAPPENING AGAIN NOW AT THE NORTHERN END.
NORTHERN END. THAT, DESPITE CONTINUED
THAT, DESPITE CONTINUED PROTESTS.
PROTESTS. >> SO THEY ARE TAKING 100 ACRES
>> SO THEY ARE TAKING 100 ACRES ON NORTH END OF THE BACK COUNTRY
ON NORTH END OF THE BACK COUNTRY AND THEY WILL CUT DOWN 1100
AND THEY WILL CUT DOWN 1100 TREES AND THEY SAY THAT WILL NOT
TREES AND THEY SAY THAT WILL NOT HAVE AN EFFECT, AND YOU WON'T
HAVE AN EFFECT, AND YOU WON'T NOTICE IT.
NOTICE IT. GO HIKING IN THE SOUTHEN.
GO HIKING IN THE SOUTHEN. THERE ARE STUMPS ALL OVER THE
THERE ARE STUMPS ALL OVER THE PLACE.
PLACE. SKIDDER TRAILS, A 40-FOOT GRAVEL
SKIDDER TRAILS, A 40-FOOT GRAVEL ROAD ACROSS THE RIDGE AND A LOG
ROAD ACROSS THE RIDGE AND A LOG LANDING AREA WHERE YOU CAN TURN
LANDING AREA WHERE YOU CAN TURN A SEMI AROUND.
A SEMI AROUND. YOU DON'T NOTICE THAT WHEN YOU
YOU DON'T NOTICE THAT WHEN YOU ARE HIKING IN THE WOODS?
ARE HIKING IN THE WOODS? OF COURSE YOU NOTICE IT.
OF COURSE YOU NOTICE IT. >> ACCORDING TO THE FOREST
>> ACCORDING TO THE FOREST ALLIANCE, THEY ARE GETTING LESS
ALLIANCE, THEY ARE GETTING LESS MONEY FOR TIMBER THAN PRIVATE
MONEY FOR TIMBER THAN PRIVATE OWNERS.
OWNERS. IN MOST CASES TIMBER BUYERS PAY
IN MOST CASES TIMBER BUYERS PAY ABOUT HALF OF WHAT THEY WOULD
ABOUT HALF OF WHAT THEY WOULD FOR THE SAME QUALITY WOOD FROM
FOR THE SAME QUALITY WOOD FROM PRIVATE WOODLAND OWNERS.
PRIVATE WOODLAND OWNERS. THIS BACK COUNTRY LOT WENT FOR A
THIS BACK COUNTRY LOT WENT FOR A LITTLE MORE THAN $50,000.
LITTLE MORE THAN $50,000. >> IN REALITY, YOU HAVE HEAVY
>> IN REALITY, YOU HAVE HEAVY MACHINERY GOING IN TO DO THE
MACHINERY GOING IN TO DO THE LOGGING.
LOGGING. YOU ARE CLEAR CUTTING SECTIONS
YOU ARE CLEAR CUTTING SECTIONS OF THE FOREST AND THAT CAN
OF THE FOREST AND THAT CAN CREATE A POTENTIAL FOR SOIL
CREATE A POTENTIAL FOR SOIL EROSION AND A LOT OF OTHER
EROSION AND A LOT OF OTHER IMPACTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT, LET
IMPACTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT, LET ALONE, YOU KNOW, REMOVING THE
ALONE, YOU KNOW, REMOVING THE TREES FROM THE FOREST.
TREES FROM THE FOREST. >> AS HE ENJOYS HIS WALKS
>> AS HE ENJOYS HIS WALKS THROUGH THE FOREST, USERY SAYS
THROUGH THE FOREST, USERY SAYS HE'S CONFRONTED BY THE LOGGING
HE'S CONFRONTED BY THE LOGGING OPERATIONS, WHEN IT'S A NEWLY
OPERATIONS, WHEN IT'S A NEWLY MARKED SECTION OF SPRAY PAINTED
MARKED SECTION OF SPRAY PAINTED TREES, LEFTOVER FRAGMENTS OF
TREES, LEFTOVER FRAGMENTS OF TREE TOPS, OR THE TRAIL MARKS
TREE TOPS, OR THE TRAIL MARKS CRUSHED INTO THE SOIL FROM THE
CRUSHED INTO THE SOIL FROM THE LOGGING EQUIPMENT.
LOGGING EQUIPMENT. >> IT'S ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT
>> IT'S ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT DEPRESSING TO ME TO SEE, OH,
DEPRESSING TO ME TO SEE, OH, THERE'S A NEW SECTION THAT'S
THERE'S A NEW SECTION THAT'S BEEN MARKED AND ALL OF THESE
BEEN MARKED AND ALL OF THESE TREES I KNOW ARE GOING TO BE
TREES I KNOW ARE GOING TO BE GONE A YEAR FROM NOW.
GONE A YEAR FROM NOW. AND THE FOREST IS GOING TO BE
AND THE FOREST IS GOING TO BE ALL TORN UP.
ALL TORN UP. >> SARA WITTMEYER JOINS US NOW
>> SARA WITTMEYER JOINS US NOW FOR MORE.
FOR MORE. PROTECTION GROUPS WOULD LIKE THE
PROTECTION GROUPS WOULD LIKE THE SAME PROTECTIONS AWARDED FOR THE
SAME PROTECTIONS AWARDED FOR THE BACK COUNTRY, BUT IT'S DIFFERENT
BACK COUNTRY, BUT IT'S DIFFERENT FROM THE FEDERAL AREAS.
FROM THE FEDERAL AREAS. WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? >> RIGHT.
>> RIGHT. WELL, YOU HEAR THEY KEPT SAYING
WELL, YOU HEAR THEY KEPT SAYING THIS WILDERNESS AREA, BUT THE
THIS WILDERNESS AREA, BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, CONGRESS
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, CONGRESS DECLARES WHAT IS A FEDERAL
DECLARES WHAT IS A FEDERAL WILDERNESS AREA AND THEY MAKE
WILDERNESS AREA AND THEY MAKE SURE IT'S PROTECTED.
SURE IT'S PROTECTED. WITH BACK COUNTRY AREAS, IT'S A
WITH BACK COUNTRY AREAS, IT'S A STATE THAT DEFINES A BACK
STATE THAT DEFINES A BACK COUNTRY AREA AND THEY DON'T HAVE
COUNTRY AREA AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAME STATUTORY PROTECTIONS
THE SAME STATUTORY PROTECTIONS LIKE AGAINST COMMERCIAL
LIKE AGAINST COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES OR MOTORIZED
ENTERPRISES OR MOTORIZED VEHICLES.
VEHICLES. AND WE DID TALK TO THE STATE'S
AND WE DID TALK TO THE STATE'S DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF
DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF FORESTRY.
FORESTRY. HE DID SAY THERE WAS NEVER ANY
HE DID SAY THERE WAS NEVER ANY INTENTION TO COMPLETELY FORBID
INTENTION TO COMPLETELY FORBID LOGGING IN THE BACK COUNTRY.
LOGGING IN THE BACK COUNTRY. >> NOW, I HAVE THIS ARTICLE HERE
>> NOW, I HAVE THIS ARTICLE HERE FROM A DNR PUBLICATION.
FROM A DNR PUBLICATION. I THINK IT'S FROM THE EARLY
I THINK IT'S FROM THE EARLY '80s WHEN THE BACK COUNTRY WAS
'80s WHEN THE BACK COUNTRY WAS ESTABLISHED.
ESTABLISHED. IT DOES SAY THAT TIMBER
IT DOES SAY THAT TIMBER HARVESTING IN THE BACK COUNTRY
HARVESTING IN THE BACK COUNTRY AREA WILL BE RESTRICTED TO
AREA WILL BE RESTRICTED TO SINGLE TREE SELECTION OF MATURE,
SINGLE TREE SELECTION OF MATURE, DAMAGED OR DISEASED TREES.
DAMAGED OR DISEASED TREES. >> YEAH.
>> YEAH. THE BACK COUNTRY IS ALL ABOUT
THE BACK COUNTRY IS ALL ABOUT PROVIDING THAT WILDERNESS
PROVIDING THAT WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE.
EXPERIENCE. THEY SAY WHEN YOU GO THERE, YOU
THEY SAY WHEN YOU GO THERE, YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO EXPERIENCE THE
ARE SUPPOSED TO EXPERIENCE THE OUTDOORS LIKE IT WAS, 150 YEARS
OUTDOORS LIKE IT WAS, 150 YEARS AGO.
AGO. SO THE REAL QUESTION IS: CAN
SO THE REAL QUESTION IS: CAN YOU ENJOY THAT EXPERIENCE IF,
YOU ENJOY THAT EXPERIENCE IF, FOR INSTANCE, NOW IN NORTHERN
FOR INSTANCE, NOW IN NORTHERN PART, CAN YOU ENJOY THAT
PART, CAN YOU ENJOY THAT PRIMITIVE EXPERIENCE IF 1200
PRIMITIVE EXPERIENCE IF 1200 TREES ARE BEING CUT DOWN IN THAT
TREES ARE BEING CUT DOWN IN THAT AREA?
AREA? >> WILL REPRESENTATIVE PIERCE'S
>> WILL REPRESENTATIVE PIERCE'S BILL GET A HEARING THIS YEAR
BILL GET A HEARING THIS YEAR THIS SESSION?
THIS SESSION? >> IT SEEMS UNLIKELY.
>> IT SEEMS UNLIKELY. I SPOKE TO THE FOREST ALLIANCE
I SPOKE TO THE FOREST ALLIANCE AND THEY SAID THE DIVISION OF
AND THEY SAID THE DIVISION OF FORESTRY WAS BLOCKING THE
FORESTRY WAS BLOCKING THE LEGISLATION.
LEGISLATION. >> HMM.
>> HMM. VERY INTERESTING.