Starting Nov. 6, the DNR will host three public meetings where people can review the 2025-2029 plan for its Division of Forestry and make public comments. The second meeting scheduled for Nov. 14 will be held at the Salamonie Lake Nature Center in Huntington County. The DNR maintains roughly 160,000 acres of forest across Indiana’s 15 state forests. While most of them reside in the southern half of the state, two state forests are located in northeast Indiana: Salamonie River State Forest in Wabash County and Frances Slocum State Forest in neighboring Miami County. Brad Schneck, assistant state forester with the DNR, said having public meetings allows DNR officials to hear what Hoosiers — the people actually using the properties — are concerned about and looking for. “Contrary to people thinking we just take the information and never do anything from it, that is far from the truth,” Schneck said. “We follow the science, and that’s what our basis is about, but we’ve made a lot a changes over the years — I know a lot since I’ve been in this position — that have come from public input.” The strategic plan is designed to help the Division of Forestry grow while also addressing some of its biggest concerns such as forest health. “Forest health is paramount because we’re always hearing about new pests or diseases popping up [along with] their threats against our forests,” Schneck said. In addition to preserving Indiana’s forests, the DNR Division of Forestry also grows and sells millions of seedlings annually, operates the Classified Forest and Wildlands program and also oversees a statewide urban forestry program. For those who are unable attend any of the public meetings, the DNR’s 35-page strategic plan is available online, and Hoosiers can make comments online until Dec. 17.