Part of a series on CILTI’s conservation targets by guest blogger Ed Pope
Although most of Indiana was wooded when Europeans first arrived, forest interior habitat is very rare today. Most forested land was cleared for farming, and while small woods can be found on many farms, there are very few large unbroken tracts of forest remaining. Continue reading
Guest Blogger
Thirty-five acres of Shelby County agricultural land came under protection this year, right next to the venerated old growth forest of Meltzer Woods. The Land Trust purchased the property from the Spalding family, descendants of the forest’s original champion, Brady Meltzer. The land had been in the family since 1857. Continue reading
Communications Manager
Dr. E. Lucy Braun, whose pioneering work in forest ecology paved the way for today’s conservationists, stepped out of history to greet attendees of our Spirit and Place Festival hike. The old growth forest of Meltzer Woods offered a stunning backdrop for her comments as she looked back at the past 100 years. Continue reading
Communications Manager
We are honored that a generous donor has offered a matching challenge grant to close out 2020. All contributions will be doubled during this season’s giving campaign, as the Efroymson Family Fund will match all gifts received by December 28, 2020, up to $75,000. Continue reading
Communications Manager
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 7, 2020
The Central Indiana Land Trust, Inc. (CILTI) is expanding the 60-acre Meltzer Woods Nature Preserve in Shelbyville by buying an adjacent 35-acre agricultural field, where it will plant more than 20,000 trees. The purchase totaled approximately $260,000 and was made possible through CILTI’s Evergreen Fund for Nature and members of the Land Trust. A portion of funds provided came from American Electric Power (AEP), Indiana Michigan Power’s parent company, under a legal settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, eight states, and 13 citizen groups. Continue reading
Media Relations
Creating future habitat for Eastern box turtles and many other species, we kicked off our million tree initiative this year. We’ve pledged to plant one million trees over the coming years in strategic sites, linking up hundreds of acres of fragmented land to benefit sensitive wildlife. Our tree-planting efforts so far buffer Meltzer Woods, Glacier’s End, Mossy Point and Wallace F. Holladay Preserve. Continue reading
Communications Manager
Part of a series on CILTI’s conservation targets by guest blogger Ed Pope
Old growth forests are forests that have not been disturbed for at least 150 years. While they have some exceptionally large trees, there will also be many younger trees. When one of the giants falls, it opens up a hole in the canopy that younger trees will try to fill. Continue reading
Guest Blogger
Before he owns the Pacers, Steve Simon’s love of nature draws him to another organization
From the IndyStar front page, August 10, 2020
by Dana Hunsinger Benbow
Brought up in a family of commercial real estate gurus who built massive malls and shopping centers, Steve Simon never fell for the glitzy hype of steel and concrete.
Instead, he was the Simon who’d sling on a backpack, take a jaunt to New Zealand and hike for weeks at a time. Continue reading
Communications Manager
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12, 2020
This week the Central Indiana Land Trust Inc. (CILTI) is planting 15,000 trees in Johnson and Parke counties. These are the first of CILTI’s 1 million trees being planted in Central Indiana and in addition to Gov. Eric Holcomb’s commitment to planting 1 million trees in the state over the next five years.
Media Relations
In Gov. Eric Holcomb’s 2020 State of the State address, he announced plans to have the Indiana Department of Natural Resources plant a million trees over the next five years. We applaud this investment and join him in the vision of increasing Indiana’s forested land.
Communications Manager