Indiana's woodlands are owned primarily by individual citizens. We all have different motivations for woodland ownership, but common threads found in surveys of woodland owners are long-term considerations, wanting to make the forest better, and pride in owning and improving the outdoor beauty of Indiana. Most landowners are not professional foresters, or biologists, or wildlife specialists or loggers. We depend on the education, experience and reputation of professionals for assistance and advice on what to do for the woodlands we own. I believe professionals subscribing to Best Management Practices are the people we want to seek out to assist us.

One distinct attitude I find in any group of woodland owners is a very clear expression of stewardship. Woodland ownership is treated as a privilege, a responsibility, and a tie to past and future generations. BMPs are an expression of stewardship, and those who follow them show their dedication to improving how wooded properties are cared for.

There are also facts that are too often hidden. For example, Indiana had 2.6 million acres of forest in 1929; this increased to 3.9 million acres in 1967. Woodland quantity has dramatically increased, but we are advised that quality is in serious need of further improvement. BMPs are a series of practices which can help assure the total forest (timber, wildlife, water and aesthetics) is not damaged but improved by our manipulations.