WOODLAND STEWARD INSTITUTE POLICY STATEMENT-2002
The Woodland Steward Institute endorses and strongly supports the use of timber harvesting as an essential tool for managing Indiana's private and public forest resources. Properly planned and administered timber harvests can provide many sustainable benefits from our forests including: increased yields of quality forest products, diverse wildlife habitats, reduction in wildfire hazards, increased forest health and vigor, watershed protection, recreational opportunities, and biodiversity.
Furthermore, the Institute believes that it is incumbent upon our elected and appointed officials to do everything in their power to ensure that timber harvesting continues to be a viable tool for managing our public forestland. It is imperative that the managers of our public forest retain the option to incorporate timber harvests into their management strategies to meet the many demands placed upon our forest resources by society. Failure to do so is a violation of the public trust and undermines the legislative intent that created our national and state forest system.