Our 2024 Impact
2024 was a BIG year for conservation at Sycamore Land Trust! Thanks to our incredible supporters, volunteers, and partners, we made meaningful progress in 2024 to protect southern Indiana’s natural areas for future generations. Look at all we accomplished together…
325 more acres protected forever
We permanently protected over 325 more acres in 2024, including adding new nature preserves to expand our conservation corridors and preserve critical habitat for endangered species. Photo above: A new nature preserve along Beanblossom Creek donated by the Oliver family protects 61 acres next to the only covered bridge in Monroe County. John Lawrence
11,400 native trees planted
We planted over 11,400 trees on our nature preserves in the Beanblossom Creek Conservation Area in Monroe County, helping to establish threatened habitats like bottomland forests that support declining native species. Photo above: Planting thousands of tree seedlings at Grandchildren’s Woods in Monroe County. John Lawrence
10,000 plants grown from seed for habitat restoration
Our Native Plant Nursery volunteers helped staff grow over 10,000 more plant plugs from seed to plant on our nature preserves and share with our community. This includes seed that was sustainably harvested on our nature preserves, since local genotypes of native plants foster more resilient native plant populations. Photo above: Volunteers help to sow native seeds. Bill Daniels
67 acres of habitat planted with resilient local native species
Native plants grown in our Native Plant Nursery were used to restore wetland habitat at the Sam Shine Foundation Preserve, restore upland habitat at Amy Weingartner Branigin Peninsula Preserve, and establish pollinator-friendly plants for wildlife and seed collection at our Cedar Crest headquarters in Bloomington. We also used plants provided through a grant from the Pollinator Partnership (possibly even grown from the seed we donated!) Photo above: Planting native plugs grown in our Native Plant Nursery at the Sam Shine Foundation Preserve. Chris Fox
400 acres of invasive plants controlled
We managed invasive species on over 400 acres of the land in our care. By removing and preventing the return of harmful invasives like garlic mustard (pictured), bush honeysuckle, Japanese stiltgrass, multiflora rose, autumn olive, and more, we create pockets of healthy habitat that safeguard biodiversity.
80 Environmental Education programs reached over 2,225 participants
We provided 80 programs to help participants of all ages connect to nature and inspire them to get involved in conservation, including free nature programming for local schools and community groups and engaging member hikes and workshops. Photo above: Bat box building workshop at Cedar Crest. Saige Sentell
30 miles of trails maintained and 400 feet of wetland boardwalk renovated
Ongoing trail maintenance connected people to nature on our 13 public nature preserves, including rerouting and repairing over 3,000 feet of trail in 2024. We replaced over 400 feet of boardwalk at Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve, hauling over five tons of material out of the wetland by hand.
Research partnerships monitor biodiversity
Our herpetological studies in partnership with the Indiana DNR recorded a total of 549 observations of 28 different species of reptiles and amphibians, which are good indicators of high-quality habitat, including the state endangered Kirtland’s snake at multiple properties. On five Sycamore properties along Beanblossom Creek, staff and interns flipped coverboards over approximately 10,000 times last summer while searching for reptiles and amphibians sheltering under them.
1,000 stewardship internship hours and hundreds of volunteers
The work of our staff team is amplified through the support of volunteers and student interns. Six student interns gained valuable first-hand experience in 2024 while providing assistance to our land stewardship crew, and hundreds of volunteers assisted with stewardship tasks from invasive species control to native plant propagation to trail construction and maintenance.
And much more
Stay tuned for the publication of our 2024 Impact Report later this year for many more accomplishments to celebrate together. This work we do is for Forever, and we couldn’t do it without our wonderful community of donors, volunteers, and partners. Thank you for making local conservation possible.
