Economic Study

Concealed Costs, Hidden Values
The Role of State Forests in Indiana’s Economy

Respectful dialogue and thoughtful analysis are key aspects of our work at the Indiana Forest Alliance. We engage in collaborative research that informs the public and policymakers about emerging issues.

Concealed Costs & Hidden Values focuses on Indiana’s state forests. “Concealed Costs of State Forest Timber Sales” is an examination of the high cost and low prices from state forest timber sales in Indiana.

Bring the Economic Study to Your Community

IFA’s conservation director Rae Schnapp, Ph.D. — the study’s primary author — is available for presentations and interviews. Contact Rae. To receive the report or summary via U.S. mail, contact IFA staff.

LISTEN to report authors Dr. Schnapp and Indiana economist Morton Marcus discuss the economics of state forest logging on the Who Gets What? podcast episode “From Tree to Shining Tree.” (Forest discussion begins at 3:23).

The Economic Study Funders

The production and dissemination of this report were made possible with the generous support of Terry & Constance Marbach and the Namaste Foundation, and The Robert R. and Gayle T. Meyer Family Fund, and Patagonia Works. Concealed Costs & Hidden Values is a collaboration among IFA staff past and present, plus economist Morton Marcus, director emeritus of the Indiana Business Research Center at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, and Spencer Phillips and Carolyn Alkire, Ph.D., consultants for Key-Log Economics.

Educate Yourself

In addition to IFA’s Ecoblitz surveys of forest life, learn how protecting Indiana’s public forests provide economic benefits for Indiana communities. Share your stories! How do you benefit from Indiana’s forests?

Contact IFA’s Conservation Director, Rae Schnapp, for more information.