Opinion: The Future of Forestry
by Liz Jackson

For decades the approach to forestry in Indiana has been one of restoration and recovery from the years of overcutting and abandonment in the early 1900’s. From a low of 1.5 million acres of forest, Indiana now boasts about 5 million acres and still increasing. We have some of the most highly productive hardwood forests in the US, if not the world.

But the future of forest conservation is troubling. The President’s proposed budget for 2026 for the US Forest Service was slashed, with several programs that impact Indiana forests up for elimination.

State, Private and Tribal Forestry (SP&T) was cut to zero and planned to be eliminated. If you are a woodland owner but not familiar with the SP&T program, it works behind the scenes to support our private lands forestry efforts. The President’s budget plans to eliminate the program and encourage private landowners and states to fund their own wildfire preparedness and forest management.

SP&T funds these programs in Indiana:

• Forest Stewardship, whose funds go to the Indiana Division of Forestry to provide technical assistance to private landowners (including our Indiana Division of Forestry district forester support)
•  Community and urban forestry
•  Forest health, including monitoring, trapping and controlling insect and disease issues, and education on those threats.
• Support for state and local fire departments for wildlife fire prevention and suppression.

Besides the State Private and Tribal Forestry elimination, the President’s budget also eliminates Forest and Rangeland Research. The USFS Research unit are the scientists who study our forests- including the impacts of management, threats, and to support threatened and endangered species. The science produced by these USFS researchers has been instrumental in our knowledge of forest management and protection for decades. Across all programs, the President’s 2026 budget for the US Forest Service is cut 65%.

These cuts are coming at a time when the threats to our forests are increasing. These programs help ensure our forests are productive, healthy and resilient, and provide assistance as we all work to be good stewards of our Indiana forests.

As of this writing, Congress had reinstated budgets for State, Private & Tribal Forestry and Research and Development and they are not out for elimination, but the budget process continues. If you share my concerns about the future of forestry funding, I encourage you to reach out to your Congressman and Senators. Tell them about your woodlands, how they support the environment and economy for all Hoosiers, and ask them to continue to support and fund these US Forest Service programs in this year’s budget and in future years.

Liz Jackson is the Executive Director of the Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association.