Using GIS to Manage and Analyze Natural

Woodland Areas

February 20th 2008

1

Introduction

Gunty AtkinsGis CoordinatorWayne County, Indiana(765) 973-9279gunty@co.wayne.in.us

Shaun ScholerGIS ManagerWayne County, Indiana(765) 973-9385sscholer@co.wayne.in.us

2

Agenda

­ Why Conserve?

­ Options

­ Partnerships

­ Data/Maps

3

Why Conserve?­ If you have a monopoly why not utilize it.

­ Economics

­ Because it is easy.

4

Why Conserve?­ A Little History

­ When Settled by the Europeans Indiana was 90% Forest. (Approx 20 Million Acres)

­ By the Early 1900’s the Landscaped Changed

­ 1922 Dept of Conservation Annual Report Stated that Indiana Contains 22,402,502 Acres

­ Yearbook of Indiana Credits the State with 1,664,886 Acres of Timberland

­ By 1920 Area Shrunk to 1,387,248 Acres

­ A Loss of 92,456 Acres a Year

5

Options\Partnerships

­ Classified Forest Program

­ Conservation Easements

6

Land Trusts in Indiana

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Land Trusts in Wayne County

8

9

Indiana Heritage Trust Projects 2006

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Maps• 1893 Atlas

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12

228,000 Acres Assessed as Agricultural

Land

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37,000 Ag Acres

Assessed as Woodland

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5,200 Acres are Classified Forest and

1,400 Acres are Classified

Wildlife Habitat

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41,000 Acres of Woodlands in

1893

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Intersect 1893 Woodlands with

Current Ag Woodlands

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Results14,000 Acres of Woodlandsover 100 Years old

Of the 5,200 Acres of Classified Forest, 2,600 Acres are Over 100 Years Old

Data

• 258,000 Acres in Wayne County• 228,000 Acres Assessed as Agricultural Land

• 37,000 Ag Acres Assessed as Woodland– Out of those 5,200 Acres are Classified

Forest and 1,400 Acres are Classified Wildlife Habitat

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Conclusions and Final Questions

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Gunty AtkinsGIS CoordinatorWayne County, Indiana(765) 973-9279gunty@co.wayne.in.usShaun ScholerSenior GIS ManagerWayne County, Indiana(765) 973-9385sscholer@co.wayne.in.us

Visit us at: http://co.wayne.in.us/gis