To establish a complete picture of the biological diversity and ecological value of older, hardwood forests in Indiana, the Indiana Forest Alliance has been conducting comprehensive inventories of flora and fauna in Morgan-Monroe and Yellowwood State Forests, as well as a 700-acre tract within Hoosier National Forest.

IFA is leading the first comprehensive baseline surveys to document the diversity of life in Indiana state and national forests. These surveys, known as “Ecoblitzes,” are distinguished from the more rapid, short-term bioblitzes. The objectives are to determine what animals and plants depend upon this deep forest and, when possible, to document how well they are surviving.

IFA’s Ecoblitz surveys document fungi, lichens, mosses, vascular plants, insects of all kinds— with special emphasis on pollinators, crustaceans, spiders, amphibians, reptiles and mammals, including bats.