Praise for The Natural Heritage of Indiana Project
The Natural Heritage of Indiana Project “consists of a four-part documentary series, educational materials, a public conference, book republication, podcasts, lesson plans, and more” - inspired by the 1997 publication, The Natural Heritage of Indiana, by Marion T. Jackson.
Episode 1: The Indiana That Was
I was privileged to see the first episode of the documentary this evening on WFYI, and it was remarkable. The scenery and content are top-tier. You don’t have to be from Indiana to enjoy it, and I cannot recommend it enough. In regards to the project, the author of “The Natural Heritage of Indiana” issued the following challenge: ”if you feel moved to help protect what remains of Indiana’s natural heritage, our objective will have been fulfilled.”
Mr. Jackson, consider your objective fulfilled.
- 20,000 years ago, “Indiana was inhabited by more large animals than exist today in all of Africa”.
- In recent past, 80% of Indiana was covered by trees, with many exceeding 200 feet in height.
- Below are a handful of animals that used to be common in the state:
- Carolina parakeet (now extinct)
- Passenger pigeon (now extinct)
- Elk and bison
- Mountain lions
- Wolves
Watch: Check WFYI for showtimes.
Read: The book that inspired it all: The Natural Heritage of Indiana – Indiana University Press
The Natural Heritage of Indiana Project
