The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the agency of the
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sove ...
of
Indiana
Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th ...
. There are many divisions within the DNR and each has a specific role. The DNR is not only responsible for maintaining resource areas but also manages Indiana's fish and wildlife, reclaims coal mine ground, manages forested areas, aids in the management of wildlife on private lands, enforces Indiana's conservation laws, and many other duties not named here. According to the department's website, their mission is "to protect, enhance, preserve, and wisely use natural, cultural, and recreational resources for the benefit of Indiana's citizens through professional leadership, management, and education".
[Organizational overview page on department's official website.](_blank)
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History
The Department of Natural Resources was created as part of the Natural Resources Act, passed by the Indiana General Assembly
The Indiana General Assembly is the state legislature, or legislative branch, of the state of Indiana. It is a bicameral legislature that consists of a lower house, the Indiana House of Representatives, and an upper house, the Indiana Senate. Th ...
and signed into law by Governor Roger Branigin in 1965.[History page on department's official website.](_blank)
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Four agencies were placed under the department's umbrella:
* Department of Conservation (the forerunner to the Department of Natural Resources)
* Flood Control and Water Resources Commission
* State Soil and Water Conservation Committee
* Outdoor Recreation Council
In 1967, the Nature Preserves Act established the Division of Nature Preserves, also under the same departmental oversight. Since then, the department has been involved in numerous initiatives and legislative efforts, including the establishment of new state parks, new flood laws, hunter safety programs, forestry education, and the general rejuvenation of Indiana's forestland. Today, the Department of Natural Resources claims that Indiana has 4.5 million acres (18,000 km²) of forestland, still far from the area's original 23 million acres (93,000 km²), but an improvement from the two million acres (8,000 km²) that remained intact by 1900.
Organization
At the top of the organization is the director (presently Dan Bortner), who reports directly to the Governor of Indiana.
/ref> In addition to overseeing the department, the director also serves on an autonomous board known as the Natural Resources Commission, consisting of both government officials and citizen members, which meets at least four times annually to address issues pertaining to the department.[Natural Resources Commission website](_blank)
/ref> The director also has an advisory council at his disposal.
Beneath the director, there are four deputy directors, each of whom is responsible for a team under which many of the department's divisions are organized.
See also
* Indiana Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division
* List of Indiana fish and wildlife areas
* List of Indiana state forests
* List of Indiana state lakes
* List of Indiana state parks
* List of State Fish and Wildlife Management Agencies in the U.S.
This article is a list of state and territorial fish and wildlife management agencies in the United States, by U.S. state or territory. These agencies are typically within the State Executive Branch. In most states these agencies manage hunting an ...
References
External links
*
Outdoor Indiana magazine
Official Indiana DNR Hunting Regulations
Official Indiana DNR Freshwater Fishing Regulations
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Natural Resources
Natural resources are resources that are drawn from nature and used with few modifications. This includes the sources of valued characteristics such as commercial and industrial use, aesthetic value, scientific interest and cultural value. ...
State environmental protection agencies of the United States
Natural resources agencies in the United States
1965 establishments in Indiana