Lowe tract arch
Sandstone arch in the Lowe Tract, Hoosier National Forest
CILTI buys inholding of Hoosier National Forest to return to forest
Written By: Jen Schmits Thomas
Date Published: June 3, 2024
Jen Schmits Thomas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Purchase prevents housing development from going into middle of national forest
The Central Indiana Land Trust, Inc. (CILTI) has closed on the purchase of 80 acres in Orange County that will eventually be added to the Hoosier National Forest. The property, known as the Lowe tract, was purchased at auction last month from private owners for $541,000.
“This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to protect an inholding in a national forest. If CILTI wasn’t able to help, the land would likely be developed,” said Cliff Chapman, the land trust’s president.
An inholding is privately owned land that lies inside the boundary of a national park, national forest, state park, or similar protected area.
Andrew Stokely, a CILTI board member who attended the auction, added, “The two individuals CILTI was bidding against had plans to put a housing development on the property. One of them said, ‘I envision 50 mailboxes at the end of this drive.’”
While CILTI does not oppose development, per se, it seeks to protect the state’s best natural areas and buffer them when possible.
Because the purchased land is an inholding of the Hoosier National Forest, CILTI and its partners plan to sell it to the federal government to be added to the Hoosier National Forest’s 204,000 acres in south-central Indiana. Managed by the U.S. Forest Service, the Hoosier National Forest spans nine Indiana counties (Brown, Crawford, Dubois, Jackson, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Orange and Perry).
A unique resource for a private nonprofit organization, CILTI’s Evergreen Fund for Nature, made the auction purchase possible. Donors contribute to the fund so the land trust has access to ready capital, which allows it to move quickly when desirable land is for sale.
“This is a perfect example of why we established the Evergreen Fund for Nature and why our donors like contributing to it,” said Chapman. “Without that fund, we likely wouldn’t have been able to put a deal together fast enough to buy the land and ensure the state wouldn’t end up with a housing development in the middle of a national forest.”
Purchase of the site will close a gap in the larger forested landscape, benefiting wildlife that require deep forest habitat to thrive. Its distinctive geological features include a sandstone arch and two pit caves. One of the caves, Hopper Pit, was discovered in 1804 along the Base Line of the United States by surveyors of the General Land Office, giving the site historical significance.
Hopper Pit
A unique landscape known as a sandstone barrens sits just south of the sandstone arch. Dominated by little bluestem, the barrens also contains the rare silver plumegrass, supporting a plant community that’s extremely rare in Indiana. The tract’s agricultural fields offer an opportunity for reforestation to close a canopy gap in the Hoosier National Forest.
Hoosier National Forest Supervisor Mike Chaveas offered, “The Lowe tract contains some unique natural features and habitats, and I’m pleased that CILTI was able to acquire it. I look forward to continuing our partnership as we pursue the potential transfer of the parcel to federal ownership to become a valued addition to the Hoosier National Forest.”
“It’s a thrill to be able to partner on such a geologically and ecologically significant project,” added Chapman. “This will help to get more canopy cover in Indiana for the species that depend on it.”
The Sam Shine Foundation, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, and donors to the Evergreen Fund for Nature helped to make the purchase possible.
Note: Out of respect for the private property adjacent to this land, it is not open to the public.
Southern Indiana Business Report story
Ben Valentine
Guest Blogger
Ben Valentine is a founding member of the Friends of Marott Woods Nature Preserve and is active in several other conservation organizations. He leads a series of NUVO interviews with Indiana's environmental leaders, and he cherishes showing his son all the wonders of nature he grew up loving.
DJ Connors
Guest Blogger
DJ Connors, a Central Indiana native and late-to-life hunter, combines a lifelong appreciation for wildlife and the outdoors with a deep passion for exploring the natural beauty of the area he has called home for most of his life. As a husband and father of three, he is committed to ensuring his children have the same opportunities to connect with nature and appreciate the outdoors in their community. DJ’s unique journey into hunting emphasizes sustainability, responsible stewardship, and the importance of preserving these experiences for future generations.
Bridget Walls
Guest Blogger
Bridget is our first ever Communications and Outreach Intern. She is a graduate of Marian University, where she combined English, studio art, and environmental sciences in her degree studies. As treasurer for Just Earth, the university's environmental club, she helped plan events encouraging a responsible relationship between people, nature, and animals.
Jordan England
Guest Blogger
Jordan England is a lifelong Shelby County resident who graduated from Waldron Jr. Sr. High School (just a few miles from Meltzer Woods!). After earning her B.S. degree in Retail Management from Purdue University, she returned to Waldron to start a family with her husband, Brian. Together they have 3 young children and enjoy sharing with them their love of the community. Jordan is the Grants and Nonprofit Relations Director at Blue River Community Foundation, managing BRCF’s grant program, providing support to local nonprofits, and promoting catalytic philanthropy in Shelby County.
Cliff Chapman
President and CEO
As CILTI’s President and CEO, Cliff keeps CILTI’s focus on good science and stewardship. He’s mindful that the natural places you love took thousands of years to evolve and could be destroyed in a single day, and that knowledge drives his dedication to their protection.
Stacy Cachules
Chief Operating Officer
Among her many key duties as Assistant Director, Stacy has the critical task of tracking our budget, making sure we channel donations for maximum efficiency. When her workday’s done, Stacy loves to spend time with her two young boys—and when not traveling, she’s likely planning the next travel adventure.
Ryan Fuhrmann
Vice Chair
Ryan C. Fuhrmann, CFA, is President and founder of Fuhrmann Capital LLC, an Indiana-based investment management firm focused on portfolio management. Ryan’s interest in land conservation centers around a desire to help preserve natural habitats for wildlife and the subsequent benefits it brings to people and the environment.
Joanna Nixon
Board Member
Joanna Nixon is the owner of Nixon Consulting, an Indianapolis-based strategy and project management firm focused on the nonprofit sector. She currently serves as the Philanthropic Advisor for the Efroymson Family Fund. Prior to opening her consulting practice in 2000, Joanna was vice-president for grantmaking at Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF). Joanna has more than 25 years of experience in the nonprofit and arts and culture sector. She is passionate about the environment and loves bringing big ideas to life and creating high-quality arts and culture programs and experiences. Joanna enjoys outdoor adventures, including competing in fitness obstacle course races and hiking with her high energy Australian Cattle Dog, Jackson.
Karen Wade
Board Member
Before retiring, CILTI board member Karen Wade worked for Eli Lilly & Co. In retirement she volunteers for a number of organizations, including the Indiana Master Naturalist program, Johnson County Native Plant Partnership CISMA, Meadowstone Therapeutic Riding Center, and Leadership Johnson County.
David Barickman
Development Systems Manager
Born and raised in Central Illinois, David spent many days as a child wandering around the river, forest and lakes there. He works behind the scenes as a key member of our fundraising team. When not working, David loves to be outdoors hiking, fly fishing, kayaking or woodworking.
Jamison Hutchins
Stewardship Director
Jamison leads our stewardship team in caring for the land that is so important to you. He comes to our team after eight years as Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator for the city of Indianapolis, where his work had a positive impact from both health and environmental perspectives.
Jen Schmits Thomas
Media Relations
An award-winning communicator and recognized leader in Central Indiana’s public relations community, Jen helps us tell our story in the media. She is the founder of JTPR, which she and her husband John Thomas own together. She is accredited in public relations (APR) from the Public Relations Society of America, and loves to camp and hike in perfect weather conditions.
Shawndra Miller
Communications Director
Shawndra’s earliest writing projects centered around the natural world, starting when a bird inspired her to write her first “book” in elementary school. Now she is in charge of sharing our story and connecting you to our work. Through our print and online materials, she hopes to inspire your participation in protecting special places for future generations.
Phillip Weldy
Stewardship Specialist
Phillip enjoys nature’s wonders from an up-close-and-personal perspective as he works to restore the natural places you love. As an AmeriCorps member in Asheville, NC, he had his first full immersion in relatively undisturbed land while reconstructing wilderness trails in National Parks and National Forests.
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