Published: October 23, 2009 07:24 pm         

Forest grants help with invasives at St. Mary-of-the-Woods

ST. MARY-OF-THE-WOODS — White Violet Center for Eco-Justice, a ministry of the Sisters of Providence, has been awarded two grants that will enable improvements in the forest at St. Mary-of-the-Woods over the next few years.

A grant for $49,937 will help relieve the forest of invasive species such as multiflora rose and Japanese honeysuckle. This Wildlife Habitat Invasives Program grant is from the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Another grant for $7,318 from the USDA Environmental Quality Incentives Program for timber stand improvement has been received.

“The funding will allow us to proceed with our management plan to maintain the woodlands in a healthy and sustainable manner,” said Sister Maureen Freeman, director of White Violet Center for Eco-Justice. “I’m really excited for the forest.”

The region forester from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources conducted a statistical survey of the trees in the 320 acres of classified forests at Sisters of Providence at St. Mary-of-the-Woods last spring. With that clear picture of what trees and how many of each invasive species are in each tract, a plan has been established to follow over the next three years to work on eliminating invasive species in 200 acres and improve timber stand.

The woodlands have been an important part of the Sisters of Providence history since St. Mother Theodore Guerin, their foundress, arrived at St. Mary-of-the-Woods in 1840.

“The forest was so important to Mother Theodore that she called her sisters the daughters of the forest, therefore, it makes it even more important to continue caring for something she loved,” Sister Maureen said.