On Monday, June 8, the Indianapolis City Council made history by officially calling for urban forest acquisition funding in next year’s municipal budget. The funds will be used to purchase privately owned Marion County forests whose owners are willing to sell for conservation purposes. This unprecedented resolution passed UNANIMOUSLY by the full Council, comes nearly six years after the Forests for Indy campaign launched.
As resolution co-sponsor Councilor Dan Boots proclaimed, “Our city has a choice. We can save our urban forests or lose them, acre by acre. The research is unequivocal. Urban forests are difference-makers for residents.”
We cannot assume that the Hogsett administration, which has steadfastly resisted any measures to allocate funds for forest protection, will heed Resolution 246. The Council has publicly called for these funds in the next city budget. To all Indianapolis readers, please ask Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett as soon as possible to allocate dollars for forest acquisition in his budget proposal to the City Council. Ask him to allocate $6 million to acquire four forest tracts whose owners are willing to sell to the city and that are at risk of commercial development.
The mayor will unveil his 2025 budget on Monday August 12 so time is of the essence. You can reach the mayor’s office at 317-327-3601 or go to indy.gov and type in Contact Mayor.
Amos Butler Audubon Society strongly supports funding for forest preservation in Indianapolis.