There are many benefits to having a healthy forest. Some of these benefits include being a habitat for wildlife, watershed protection, recreational space, and timber income. However, a lot of forest are not managed properly and suffer from neglect. Forest that are neglected may not have ideal plant species growing in them, may not be a suitable habitat for wildlife, is a stressful environment for plant life, can be overly dense and populated with slow growing trees, and does not provide the owner with a source of income.

A common way to protect, sustain, and improve forest health is through timber stand improvement (TSI). TSI involves a combination of tree thinning, girdling and pruning for multiple resource benefits with an emphasis on timber and wildlife values depending on stand location and site-specific management objectives. To start doing TSI, you should begin by developing a forestry management plan where you identify your goals and/or objectives for your forest. Some potential goals and/or objectives include:

• Improve overall forest health
• Increase potential timber income
• Enhanced hunting
• Control soil erosion
• Develop alternative income enterprises such as maple syrup, forest herbs, etc.

If you would like to know more about developing a forest management plan, timber stand improvement, or ways to improve the health of your forest, please consider participating in the Forestry Management Workshop Series. This program series will be on April 13, 20, and 27 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Ivy Tech Community College in Greencastle, IN. The final session will take place on April 29 from 9:00-10:30 am at a local forest near Cloverdale, IN. The sessions include:

• Session 1 – Forestry Management Plans
• Session 2 – Controlling Invasive Plants
• Session 3 – Timber Management & Sales
• Session 4 – Timber Stand Improvements in Action

The cost to participate in this 4-session program is $10 per person. To register call 765-653-8411 or go online at https://tinyurl.com/ForestMgmt23 Presenters include Purdue Extension staff and industry representatives. This program is sponsored by Purdue Extension and the Putnam County Soil & Water Conservation District.

Visit our homepage at www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or you can contact the local Purdue Extension Office by calling 765.653.8411 for more information regarding this week’s column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events. It is always best to call first to assure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs. While many publications are free, some do have a fee. Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution. All times listed are Eastern Time.

Upcoming Events:

April 4 – Exploring 4-H, 6pm, Putnam County Fairgrounds

April 13, 20, 27, & 29 – Forestry Management Workshop Series, 6-8 pm, Ivy Tech, $20, register at https://tinyurl.com/ForestyMgmt23

April 16 – Camp Counselor Applications due for 4-H Camp register via 4honline account

April 18 – Basics of Home Food Preservation (Freezing and Dehydrating), 6pm, Hendricks Co. Fairgrounds, register at 317-745-2555 ext. 3

May 6 – Plant Auction, Goat Barn, Auction starts at 10 am

May 15 – All 4-H livestock/animal registrations must be entered in 4honline (firm deadline)

May 15 – Last day sign up for 4-H Camp via 4honline