sign everything is protected
Nature preserve boundary sign at Betley Woods
The Nature of a Preserve
Written By: Grace van Kan
Date Published: January 30, 2023
Grace van Kan
What makes a nature preserve? And if a nature preserve is not state-dedicated, is it really a nature preserve? It sure is!
A nature preserve is a natural area that is managed so as to protect high-quality characteristics: its flora, fauna, physical features like unique geology, and even aesthetic values.
Nature preserves can be owned by the government or by private landowners, including land trusts, schools and universities, and city parks and recreation departments. Nature preserves are not automatically public land, and they may not be open to the public at all.
A piece of land that bears the title “nature preserve” does not always have governmental protections, either. But one way for nature preserves in Indiana to be protected in perpetuity is to have them state-dedicated. For a preserve to be dedicated, there must be an agreement between the landowner, Department of Natural Resources, and the Natural Resources Commission.
Dedication allows the DNR to manage and protect the nature preserve from “development which would harm its natural character.”
DNR nature preserves that are open to the public typically have pedestrian trails and are open from dawn to dusk. Some state-dedicated nature preserves may only be accessible for activities such as scientific research, requiring a special permit. Either way, it is illegal to disturb or remove anything from a state-dedicated nature preserve without the proper permits. This allows nature to flourish within the nature preserve boundaries.
There is also a notable distinction between parks and nature preserves. The primary goal of a nature preserve is to protect biodiversity and ecological functions. A park’s primary purpose is human recreation.
Parks are purchased and developed to be recreational spaces. Here you might find manicured lawns and amenities devoted to active recreation: playgrounds, soccer fields, and skate parks.
Nature preserves, on the other hand, are pre-existing natural areas. If they are open to the public, they are designed for passive recreation like walking your leashed dog on a trail or birdwatching. You certainly won’t find a baseball diamond in a nature preserve! (However, you can sometimes find a nature preserve within the confines of a park, such as the state-dedicated Warbler Woods Nature Preserve at Fort Harrison State Park.)
There are more than 290 state-dedicated nature preserves in Indiana, including CILTI’s Meltzer Woods, Burnett Woods, the Laura Hare Preserve at Blossom Hollow, Fred and Dorothy Meyer Nature Preserve, and Betley Woods at Glacier’s End.
No matter where you go to enjoy the great outdoors, please recreate responsibly and safely. We hope to see lots of you out trekking our trails this year!
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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