HABITATS
forests https://www.in.gov/dnr/nature-preserves/old-growth-forests/
prairies https://www.in.gov/dnr/nature-preserves/indiana-prairie/
rivers
wetlands https://www.in.gov/dnr/nature-preserves/indiana-wetlands/
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"Of Indiana's original 20 million acres of forest, fewer than 2,000 acres of old-growth forests remain intact."
"Most of the original prairie in the state has been lost to drainage, urbanization and agriculture."
home to endangered, threatened, and extirpated species
natural areas provide conservation / nature studies:
- birdwatching
- insect study
- wildflower and tree id
- examples of IN's rarest resources
wetlands help with flood protection, water filtering (removal of pollutatans from drinking water supply)
https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/may-american-wetlands-month