Why managing your land for timber is actually good for the environment

After a recent timber harvest, landowner Luke Ernstberger surveyed his woodlot with private forester Stewart Turner of Turner Forestry. 

A skid trail was visible from where loggers removed hardwood logs of various sizes and values with heavy equipment. But the forest was intact, attractive, and very much alive. Downed tops would soon provide brushy habitat for wildlife and would return nutrients to the soil. 

“One thing that I can appreciate walking through here is just looking up at the sky and seeing how much more open it is,” Luke said to Turner. 

Turner explained that the extra sunlight would create a flush of plant growth and renewed animal activity, and that after about 5 years the opening would close in and blend with the rest of the forest.

“To the untrained eye, most people will come in here and look at this and say ‘this is an old growth forest,’” Stewart explained. “They won't see those stumps until you start pointing at them.”

This year on Arbor Day, we celebrate the beauty and importance of trees. 

But for private forest owners like Luke, there’s a deeper opportunity—a chance to actively steward their land in a way that promotes nature, creates a lasting legacy, and contributes to our agricultural economy.

Why second-growth forests need our help

Contrary to popular belief, forests don’t necessarily thrive best when left alone. 

In fact, in the Central Hardwoods Region—which spans much of Indiana—our forests are often second-growth, shaped not by ancient cycles of untouched wilderness but by generations of farming, grazing, and reversion. Left unmanaged, many of these woodlots become overcrowded, stagnant, and less ecologically diverse.

That’s why one of the most environmentally responsible things you can do as a woodlot owner is to manage your forest—carefully, intentionally, and sustainably—for timber.

Indiana’s forests today are the result of regrowth following widespread clearing during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Active timber harvests that mimic natural disturbance can help maintain the conditions necessary for ecologically important trees like oak to thrive.

The Indiana Forest Action Plan (2020) points to oak and hickory regeneration as a key concern. Oaks provide food and shelter for countless species, but without regular disturbance—like canopy thinning or prescribed fire—they struggle to compete with shade-tolerant trees.

 Active timber harvests that mimic natural disturbance can help maintain the conditions necessary for these ecologically important trees to thrive.

Timber harvesting creates habitat, too

Selective timber harvests don’t just produce income—they shape the forest in ways that directly benefit wildlife. 

Harvesting small groups of trees can open the canopy and allow sunlight to reach the forest floor, triggering the growth of shrubs and young trees. These areas become rich feeding and nesting grounds for birds, pollinators, deer, and small mammals.

Retaining snags (standing dead trees), leaving downed logs, and protecting streamside buffers are practices that enhance this habitat even more. The Indiana DNR stresses the importance of managing for structure, not just tree species.

A well-managed forest is dynamic, layered and messy looking. All that variety is what creates a functioning ecosystem.

The key is to follow best management practices (BMPs) during harvesting, including erosion controls, equipment limits, and seasonal timing.

It’s good for the environment —and your bottom line

Forests managed for both habitat and timber provide long-term environmental benefits:

• Soil and water protection: Thinned forests with healthy groundcover reduce erosion and improve water infiltration.

• Carbon storage: Trees absorb carbon dioxide during growth, and durable wood products like lumber continue to store that carbon long after harvest.

• Resilience to pests and climate: Diverse, actively managed forests are less vulnerable to invasive species, drought, and extreme weather.

Plus, the sale of sustainably harvested timber makes conservation financially sustainable. It can provide income that helps landowners reinvest in stewardship—whether that’s planting new trees or removing invasive species.

How to get started

This Arbor Day, if you own a patch of woods, consider how you might shape it for future generations. Habitat and timber can go hand in hand. Conservation and working lands are not opposites. In fact, they’re often part of the same story.

Here’s how to get started:

1. Develop a forest management plan.
This written document outlines your goals—whether that’s wildlife, income, recreation, or all of the above—and maps out strategies to achieve them. The Indiana DNR and Purdue Extension both offer resources to help you get started.

2. Work with professionals.
A consulting forester or district wildlife biologist can walk your land with you, identify opportunities, and guide you through the harvesting process.

3. Explore financial assistance.
Programs like EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program) and Indiana’s Classified Forest & Wildlands Program can reduce property taxes or cost-share improvement projects.