Indiana Wildlife Federation

Trails: In partnership with the Central Indiana Land Trust (CILTI), through funding from the state of Indiana's Next Level Trail program, IWF broke ground on an ambitious network of trails in Johnson County. This trail system will stretch over four miles showcasing the unique geology of the land where the Wisconsin Glaciation ended its southward march and the rare fauna and flora that can be found in this transitional area. Additionally, IWF had begun working with several new properties in the state to assist in trail-building and certification.

Education and advocacy for wildlife and wildlife habitat: Protecting wildlife and wildlife habitat through education and advocacy, forums on current top priorities and threats to natural resource, and habitat certification and workshops for private landowners, college and university campuses, businesses and other organizations. The Certified Wildlife-Friendly Habitat program, formerly referred to as the Certified Backyard Habitat program, is done in partnership with the National Wildlife Federation. This program educates and encourages individuals, businesses or schools to support the four needs of wildlife by utilizing native plants to provide food, as well as providing water, cover and nesting space. Across the state of Indiana, we had over 670 Habitat Certifications in 2023 and IWF delivered virtual and in person Wildlife Habitat Workshops totaling over 570 participants. Finally IWF was able to have several op-eds placed in papers throughout the state including the Indy Star (paper of record for Indiana).Indiana's Wild Climate program is a presentation that utilizes the latest climate science from Purdue's Climate Change Research Center paired with compelling wildlife photography that illustrates the pressures that Hoosier wildlife populations are already experiencing due to global climate warming. This program illustrates the growing new pattern of extreme rain events in the spring and fall, considerably more summer days above 90 degrees, and more winter snow falling as rain. This program is booked virtually or in person and has been delivered 5 times in 2023.Certified Sustainable Trails Program - The Certified Sustainable Trails program was designed to encourage the development of trails into thriving habitat corridors that are easier to manage, offer a greater benefit to trail users, and promote the conservation of local ecosystems through enriching human interaction with the environment. By partnering with the Indiana Wildlife Federation (IWF) through this program, participants will receive guidance, feedback, and access to resources which will help them build and maintain wildlife-friendly trails. In 2022, we certified 2 new trails across Indiana and helped coordinate volunteer stewardship and educational programming at 5 trails that have certified in past years to help maintain the highest level for habitat. The Trails program has received support from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust to implement another year of staff and program support.IWF has begun work in earnest on their most ambitious trail to date at Central Indiana Land Trust's (CILTI) Betley's Woods at Glacier's End in Johnson County. We expect this trail to be one of the most sought after trails in the state when completed in late 2024 or early 2025.Connecting young people with nature through educational programs, scholarships, and experiences continued to be a top priority. IWF serves on the steering committee of the Indiana Conservation Alliance (INCA), a statewide network of over 25 conservation organizations providing a unified voice for the protection, stewardship, and sustainable use of natural resources to enhance quality of life. In 2023 IWF helped to restructure how INCA collected dues and built momentum.IWF continues to act as convenor of consumptive and non-comsumptive conservation groups. In partnership with Ducks Unlimited, BHA of Indiana and the Sportsman's Roundtable, IWF has been able to help reinvigorate this united advocacy front to help push for increased public lands and access throughout the state. Lastly, the Indiana Wildlife Federation has begun to work with a variety of organizations to focus on the intersection of agriculture and water quality in the state. With generous funding from the Walton Foundation, IWF has hired an agronomist to work with farmers, and farm adjacent industries in the state to develop a road map for helping reduce the impact of agriculture on water in the state.