Conservancy group plans how to protect East Central Indiana land

MUNCIE, Ind. — Red-tail Land Conservancy has created a Strategic Conservation Plan to guide its work preserving East Central Indiana land for the next 10 to 15 years.

The plan, which was developed over two years based on scientific research and recommendations from area ecologists, prioritizes ecological biodiversity, natural area connectivity, water quality, carbon trapping and public accessibility, according to a news release.

"There is not unlimited money or time to protect the land that is most vulnerable to urban development, habitat loss and effects of a changing climate," Julie Borgmann, the group's executive director, said in the release. "Having a roadmap in place allows us to act swiftly in response to those rapidly increasing pressures."

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Geographic Information Systems technology was used to generate six Priority Conservation Regions through Madison, Delaware, Henry, Randolph and Wayne counties. Maps representing different priorities, such as existing undeveloped natural areas, land that connects or buffers natural areas, waterways and wetlands, were overlapped to identify areas that meet all the criteria.

Those are areas Red-tail will focus its efforts, including the Whitewater Valley in Wayne County. The Red-tail plan calls the Whitewater Valley a unique area in East Central Indiana at the edge of the last glacial retreat. It's composed of upland forests and carved valleys where varying geographical grades provide climate resilient habitats for the future, according to the Red-tail description.

Other Priority Conservation Regions are the Cabin Creek Watershed in Randolph County; the McVey Expansion and Connectivity Area in Randolph and Delaware counties; the White River Corridor through Randolph, Delaware and Madison counties; the Big Blue River Bottomlands in Henry County; and the Ginn Woods Complex in Delaware County.

Red-tail has already begun to integrate its Strategic Conservation Plan in its work, the release said, and it expects to achieve goals of protecting rare habitats, supporting biodiversity, expanding habitat blocks, improving water quality, restoring forests and wetlands to mitigate climate change and creating inclusive public access for enjoyment of nature.

"The rivers, woods, wetlands and wildlife that make up East Central Indiana are precious and irreplaceable," Borgmann said. "National studies have shown that land trusts with strategic conservation plans protect more than twice the land of those without."

Red-tail's Strategic Conservation Plan is available on its website, fortheland.org.

Red-tail supports 15 nature preserves in its five-county region that are open to the public, including the Swoveland Nature Preserve in Hagerstown and the Cope Environmental Center Easement in Centerville, as well as special access areas and areas closed to the public, such as a conservation easement near Esteb Road and Boston Creek.

This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: Conservancy group plans how to protect East Central Indiana land