Saturday, February 1, 2025
Wyndham Indianapolis West, 2544 Executive Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46256

Looking to begin bidding on our Silent Auction? You may sign up HERE.

Agenda:

8:00 am               Registration/Exhibit area opens/Light breakfast

9:00 am               Welcome, Craig Carpenter, IWF Board President

9:15 am               Allen Pursell, Director of Forest Programs for the Sam Shine Foundation – Forestry for the Birds
“Forestry for the Birds” is a habitat conservation effort first developed in Vermont but is relatively new to the Midwest. Twelve bird species whose populations are in decline were selected to guide landowners, foresters, and wildlife biologists on how to slow the loss of some of these most iconic forest birds, including eastern whip-poor-will and red-headed woodpecker.

10:15 am             Cliff Chapman, President/CEO, Central Indiana Land Trust, Inc. – Warblers, Turtles, and Pigeons, An Ecologist’s Approach to Forest Conservation in Indiana

11:00 am             Break – exhibitors/silent auction

11:30 am             Dr. Pat Zollner Professor of Quantitative Ecology, Purdue University – Insight into the Impact of Habitat on Indiana’s Wildlife
Quantitative skills like statistical analysis and computer programming intimidate most people. However, these approaches are critical to learning how wildlife populations respond to human activities like habitat alteration. This talk will provide numerous examples of how these tools improved understanding of how to address management challenges facing a diverse range of  Indiana wildlife. The examples won’t contain too much math but should challenge everyone present to appreciate the critical importance of these tools more deeply in addressing the challenges faced by wildlife across Indiana.

12:30 pm            Buffet Lunch

1:15 pm               IWF’s Distinguished Wildlife Supporter Awards
*George and Christine Plews
*Carey Hamilton, Representative District 87
*Alexandra Koenig, Holt Scholarship Awardee, Purdue University, majoring in Wildlife with a minor in Forestry

1:30 pm               Geriann Albers, Certified Wildlife Biologist® Furbearer and Turkey Program Leader, Indiana Department of Natural Resources – Forest Furbearers and Turkey Too
A tale of three species. Highlighting what we know about three animals that rely on Indiana’s forests: wildlife turkey, gray fox, and bobcat.

2:30 pm               Break – exhibitors/silent auction

2:45 pm               Edie Juno, Forestry Specialist, NWF – Threats & Opportunities for Forests in the 21st Century
In an era of global change, how can policymakers and land managers act to reduce the impacts of the stressors forests face? This talk will explore some of the   threats to forests at regional, national, and international scales, and outline potential policy responses.

3:45 pm               Dan Boritt, Executive Director Indiana Wildlife Federation

3:30 pm               Silent Auction closes

4:15 pm               Reception, enjoy COPI appetizers and a cash bar

Registration for the conference is CLOSED.

Contact Mahern@IndianaWildlife.org for additional information about sponsorship.