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TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI)- The trees at the fairgrounds have officially come down.

The trees are believed to have stood for more than 200 years. When the fairgrounds took over the land of wood, it caused damage to the tree’s growth. Now these trees are being re purposed to teach us some history of the land.
Mike Saunders is a hardwood expert and Natural Resource Professor at Purdue. He says it’s sad that the trees had to come down but he’s making this a positive situation by using it to look at what may have happened years ago on the land. “I think there’s a story to tell both scientifically and to the public on what these trees are here and how they came into being and give them their life story of the trees,” said Saunders.
Saunders uses a scanner that can determine the lands history by looking at the length and width of each ring. “We can look at what past climate was. We can also determine whether or not the trees grew in a closed canopy forest or if it grew out in the open based on the patterns we see in the growth in the rings,” said Saunders.
Some community members have expressed sadness seeing these trees go. But Saunders said the neck of woods just down the road by Central Catholic are similar trees still standing. He says those are worth preserving.
The tree reading process can take months. But Saunders plans to share all his findings in one way or another.
“It would be nice to put up a sign out here at some point to talk about what happened with these trees and how old the stand was,” said Sanders.

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Purdue Researchers Release White Paper
on Indiana Forest Management Issues

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A team of forest and wildlife researchers from Purdue University’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources has published a white paper addressing three critical questions in the ongoing discussion about management of Indiana state forests.

Bob Wagner, department head and professor, said the purpose of the paper, titled “Addressing Concerns about Management of Indiana’s Forests,” was to provide useful information to policymakers and the public.

“This is our best science-based assessment from decades of research on these issues,” Wagner said.

Questions addressed in the paper are:
* Are natural disturbances alone adequate to maintain a desirable structure and diversity of Indiana’s forests and wildlife?
* Is timber harvesting bad for wildlife?
* How is “old-growth” forest defined, and is it a relevant term for managing Indiana’s forests? Read More