Comprehensive Regional Plan - Northwestern Indiana Regional ...

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Forestlands
An appreciation of the value of
forestlands is evident across the globe.
Forests provide a host of benefits, from
habitats for wildlife, to clean air and
water, to providing a solid aesthetic
value for a community. However, over
the years, the number of forested
acres has decreased dramatically in
Northwest Indiana, first by agricultural
practices, and recently by development
pressures. There are also threats from
poor tree quality and damaging insects.
Proactive protection policies, enacted
most especially at the local level, will be
necessary to curb further deterioration of
our regional forests.
Biodiversity and Wildlife Habitat
No other region in the Midwest has been
as greatly impacted by human activity as
Northwest Indiana. A tremendous variety
of native plant and wildlife species used
to call our region home. These included
pine-covered dunes, marshland habitats
by the Calumet and Kankakee rivers, and
Oak-Savannah and tall grass prairies.
Today, remnants of these systems are
prevalent at Indiana Dunes National
Lakeshore and in scattered pockets
of open space. However, even these
are threatened from outside stresses,
where additional protection policies are
necessary to retain and expand upon
their value to the region.
Prime Agricultural Land
Agricultural and rural lands are key
components in a successful green
infrastructure network, preserving
natural and aesthetic qualities and
enhancing rural community character
and well-being.
There are approximately 530 square
miles of prime farmland in our region,
and today an appreciation of their
preservation value is emerging in our
society.