The following eight goals present broad statements of the overall purpose of the Forest. 

Conservation of Threatened and Endangered Species Habitat

The Hoosier will aid in delisting endangered and threatened species, maintain an array of habitats to meet the needs of a variety of species, and potentially prevent the need to list additional sensitive species.  The Forest is committed to the conservation and recovery of threatened, endangered, and proposed species and their habitats.  As a Forest, we consistently put a high value on the restoration and recovery of native plant and wildlife species and the protection and conservation of those species that most need help to ensure they continue to be a viable component of the Hoosier National Forest. 

In cooperation with the USDI Fish and Wildlife Service and appropriate State agencies, the Forest has established management objectives, including mitigating measures, for conservation of these species.  This Plan fulfills Endangered Species Act Section 7(a)(1) obligations for conservation of Federally listed threatened, endangered, and proposed species.  The basic objective is to design projects in a manner that ensures management activities will not adversely affect habitat of threatened or endangered species.

Maintain and Restore Sustainable Ecosystems

The Forest recognizes the inherent value of evolving natural in the area it manages.  Their variety adds value to our lives and reflects the power and permanence of our natural world.  These ecosystems are a barometer of the quality of land management.  Ecosystems, with their natural variety of species, genetic make-up, and ecological processes, are key to providing the diversity needed to be resilient in the face of environmental disturbances.  To be sustainable, each ecosystem must include viable populations of its component species.  The Forest intends to maintain and restore individual communities within the ecological capabilities of the landscape. 

This goal includes restoration and maintenance of plant and wildlife species and their habitat components.  All ecosystems will be recognized and enhanced, based on site capabilities.  The capabilities of each site will be identified at a site-specific level and the basic integrity of air, soil, and water resources protected. 

Some components of this goal are:

·         Emphasize native plant and animal species and communities in management.

·         Develop and maintain stands of the appropriate composition and structure to meet management goals; and when possible, provide for interconnecting corridors. 

·         Use vegetation management to perpetuate and enhance biological diversity. Intersperse vegetative types to provide viable habitat for native species.

·         Protect cave resources from potential surface and subterranean impacts.

·         Protect areas that have significant natural characteristics or represent relatively undisturbed examples of important forest ecosystems.

·         Emphasize prevention and control in the integrated pest management program through appropriate means.

·         Use prescribed fire to maintain fire-adapted ecosystems, to promote a more diverse community of plants and animals, and to manage accumulated fuels.

·         Control and prevent the spread of nonnative invasive species.

Maintain and Restore Watershed Health

The goal of watershed health reaffirms the historic mission of the Hoosier for watershed protection and restoration.  The driving force for establishing the Hoosier was to stabilize and restore eroding lands and protect watersheds from sediment.  This goal emphasizes collaborative stewardship of watersheds and interrelated biological, economic, and social factors that affect these areas.  The Forest will contribute to the restoration of water quality and soil productivity to improve the condition of those watersheds impacted by past land use practices. 

Protect our Cultural Heritage

The goal is to protect significant heritage resources, to share their values with the American people, and to contribute relevant information and perspectives to natural resource management.  

Some components of this goal are:

·         Stewardship emphasizes protection of heritage resources including identification, evaluation, preservation, scientific investigation, interpretation, and proactive law enforcement. 

·         Interprets a variety of sites for the public to bring the past alive and illustrate relevance to the issues and challenges of today and the future. 

·         Provide opportunities for recreation experiences, public education, development of a conservation ethic, and an appreciation of common links with the past. 

·         Integrate historical and cultural data at the landscape level to provide context for natural resource management.  

Provide for Visually Pleasing Landscape

Emphasize natural-appearing landscapes, with attention given to views from roads, trails, and high use areas.  Visual quality will be considered in all management activities.

To the extent possible, Forest management activities, roads, and facilities are to blend with their settings.  With design, timing, and care, minimal disturbance and disruption of the natural setting will occur.  Long-term visual goals are not necessarily negated by short-term disruption of visual character.

Provide for Recreation Use in Harmony with Natural Communities

The Forest provides an opportunity for outdoor recreational experiences consistent with protection of the Forest’s natural resources.

The Forest fills a much-needed niche in Indiana by offering recreational experiences not readily available or otherwise in short supply such as long distance trails, wilderness, water-based, and dispersed. 

The recreation program strives to provide a range of opportunities from wilderness to developed recreation areas. 

Some components of this goal are:

·         Provide a trail system for use by hikers, mountain bikers, and horse riders.

·         Create and maintain a variety of dispersed and developed recreational opportunities. 

·         Protect and enhance wilderness values.

Provide a Useable Landbase

The Forest strives to provide a landbase for biological diversity, recreational opportunities, and management efficiency.  National Forest System land will be identifiable by the public.

The Forest will strive to provide public access.  We are committed to an acquisition and exchange program to consolidate NFS lands, to resolve encroachments, and to protect significant cultural resources, areas of historical interest, and unusual habitats. 

Provide for Human and Community Development

The Forest meets certain individual, community, and national needs such as clean water, minerals, recreation, timber, and wilderness values.  The knowledge that the forest is there and that natural wild places are preserved and available is important to many people, whether or not they ever visit the Hoosier.

The Forest contributes to local economies and provides commodities, products, and services to people and local communities. 

Some components of this goal are:

·         Reduce wildfire risk to communities, municipal water supplies, and at-risk Federal land. 

·         Provide interpretive services to enhance the visitor’s experience, to assist with management issues, or to protect forest resources whenever possible. 

·         Provide for a balance of forest products within the capabilities of the ecosystems.

·         Support regional tourism development.

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For more information, to comment, or receive paper copies of any of these documents contact us at r9 hoosier website@fs.fed.us