Three years ago, on behalf of The Nature Conservancy, I supported the designation of a portion of Yellowwood State Forest as a High Conservation Value Forest (HCVF). My reason for doing so was clear: I wanted to save the yellowwood tree.
Happily, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources has done just that. The new HCVF will ensure rare yellowwood trees remain part of the Indiana landscape.
The 591-acre HCVF will be called the Yellowwood Conservation Area at Yellowwood State Forest.
Beautiful and rare, yellowwood trees are a state-endangered species in Indiana. They occur naturally in Indiana only in Yellowwood State Forest and Brown County State Park, which is the northern end of their natural range. The tree’s name comes from the yellow coloration of its heartwood, which has been used to make furniture in the past.
Because Indiana’s yellowwood trees are located so distantly from any others in the U.S., I worked with the Hardwood Tree Regeneration and Improvement Center at Purdue University to learn if they are genetically distinct.
We solved this mystery by studying the genetics of yellowwood trees, both inside and outside Indiana. Our analysis showed the ancestors of these trees are ancient, and they have been isolated from all other yellowwoods in the country for thousands of years. In short, Indiana has a yellowwood tree unlike any other on the planet.
While not yet finalized, the Division of Forestry has created a Yellowwood Management Plan that will now direct all management considerations for this area. It includes specific actions, a near-term timeline and citations to back up the recommendations.
Yellowwood trees require abundant sunlight early in their life. Current conditions, which include crowding out by maple trees among others and the presence of invasive species, are preventing that. Once established, yellowwoods need disturbance and sunlight to compete well with the more shade tolerant maple and beech trees.
All forest management activities in this special area will include conservation and restoration of yellowwood trees as the top priority. Typical state forest management will continue in this area, including forest stand improvement, invasive species control and timber harvesting. Careful implementation of these practices will allow existing trees to remain healthy and the additional sunlight to the trees can result in greater flower and seed production.
The yellowwood’s rarity makes finding this tree special. It truly is a sight to behold. As a mature tree, it is at home in the canopy of the forest alongside maple, beech and cherry trees. It is armored in smooth, gray bark reminiscent of beech trees. Each limb is decked out in large, compound leaves that turn bright yellow in autumn. In early June, the showy cluster of white flowers is a treat to see in our Brown County woodland.
Like all rare plants and animals, the yellowwood is worth saving.
Allen Pursell is director of forest conservation for The Nature Conservancy in Indiana. He’s based in the conservancy’s Blue River Project office in Laconia.
