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Op-ed: Indiana’s yellowwood trees ‘unlike any other on the planet’

Three years ago, on behalf of The Nature Conservancy I supported the designation of a portion of Yellowwood State Forest as a High Conservation Value Forest (HCVF). My reason for doing so was clear: I wanted to save the yellowwood tree.

Happily, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources has done just that. The new HCVF will ensure rare yellowwood trees remain part of the Indiana landscape.

The 591-acre HCVF will be called the Yellowwood Conservation Area at Yellowwood State Forest.

Beautiful and rare, yellowwood trees are a state-endangered species in Indiana. They occur naturally in Indiana only in Yellowwood State Forest and Brown County State Park, which is the northern end of their natural range. The tree’s name comes from the yellow coloration of its heartwood, which has been used to make furniture in the past.  Click here for more.

Ep. 232 – The Plight of the Butternut

The butternut or white walnut (Juglans cinerea) is a tree that is unknown to many. Ravaged by an invasive fungal blight, this wonderful tree is on the decline throughout eastern North America. If nothing is done to save the butternut, it will likely go extinct. If it does, North America will lose yet another important nut-producing tree. That is where people like Andrea Brennan come in. Andrea and her colleagues are working hard to investigate what can be done to save the butternut from extinction. From hybridization to genetic modification, Andrea’s research takes a holistic approach to tree conservation. Join us for an important discussion about the plight of the butternut. This episode was produced in part by Griff, Philip, Paul, Matthew, Clark, Bobby, Kate, Steven, Brittney, McMansion Hell, Joey, Catherine, Brandon, Hall, VegrevilleCreek and Wetlands Fund, Kevin, Oliver, John, Johansson, Christina, Jared, Hannah, Katy Pye, Brandon, Gwen, Carly, Stephen, Botanical Tours, Moonwort Studios, Lisa, Liba, Lucas, Mohsin Kazmi Takes Pictures, doeg, Clifton, Stephanie, Benjamin, Eli, Rachael, Anthony, Plant By Design, Philip, Brent, Ron, Tim, Homestead Brooklyn, Brodie, Kevin, Sophia, Brian, Mark, Rens, Bendix, Irene, Holly, Caitlin, Manuel, Jennifer, Sara, and Margie. Click here for more.