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/

^^

"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

​

​

​

​