Preserving a primitive forest

Richard “Digger” Tretter, the fourth of nine children born to Alois “Sass” and Pauline (Dischinger) Tretter, roamed an immense playground right in his backyard while growing up in rural Ferdinand. He romped through fields, scaled trees with siblings and friends and often climbed the fire tower to chat with the forester on duty.

For the Tretter family, the Ferdinand State Forest is personal. Digger’s grandfather, Henry Tretter, donated the first 117 acres to create the forest. His uncle, Emmeran Tretter, served as the inaugural property manager. His sister-in-law’s father, Jim Luebbehusen, filled that role for many years and now, nephew-in-law Jamie Winner is property manager.

Last Saturday, Digger joined his friend, Jim Kemper (the friendship between Kempers and Tretters stretches back five generations from these two and continues on with their children and grandchildren), and about 32 others for a three-mile hike to a 150-acre old growth grove that has been untouched for at least as many years as the Town of Ferdinand has existed.

According to Kemper, this grove’s fate is threatened. While the parcel has not been bid out for harvesting, it is slated for it.

“Since the Daniels’ administration the forest service has been run more like a business,” commented Tretter. “The required annual timber harvest is one million board feet from the Ferdinand Forest alone.”

Both men believe the 150-acre grove — some of it part of Henry Tretter’s original donation in 1934 — can and should be spared from the axe.

“To cut trees down now that are 200 years old is FOREVER. You can’t go back. It’s generations,” asserts Kemper.

“I grew up on a farm and I know harvesting is necessary,” added Vic Begle of St. Henry, who was one of the hikers. “I support harvesting mature trees, you have to do some of that, but also preserving certain tracks is an absolute must. There’s no real good reason to cut this [the old growth forest].”

“Just think,” continued Begle, “in California, if we had allowed loggers free reign we wouldn’t have any 2,000 year old trees.”

Land donated for the Ferdinand State Forest was originally a gift to the people, not the State and Begle asserts the voices of the people should be heard.

Ironically, he notes, “I’ve heard that in Germany no one can cut a tree down [even on private property] without the state’s permission.”

Here it’s the reverse. The state is mandating the decimation of one million board feet this year. In the previous five years (2005-09) timber sales from Ferdinand State Forest harvests totaled $8,780,726; $3,355,477 in the five years prior to that (2001-05).

However, those who oppose the harvesting of these 150 acres have a friend in State Representative (District 63) Mike Braun, who said when learning of the possible devastation, “I’m going to be your defender. Aesthetically speaking these tracts are too few and far between.”

A story about Braun’s passion for forests appeared here.

Braun noted that timber prices are at an all time high but added, “We’re certainly not that money hungry [as a State] that we can’t draw the line on these rare pieces.”

Braun said he is happy to exchange information on this issue with all interested constituents and, when learning of these concerns, set up a meeting with the DNR Division of Forestry.

The Ferdinand State Forest was a project of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) under President Franklyn D. Roosevelt. The acreage in question, which includes Coyote Hollow Lake, was acquired as portions from three separate donations between Tretter’s in 1934, a second in 1936 and the final 13 or so acres in 1945.

The property provides an ideal wildlife habitat and is rife with waterfowl, deer, songbirds, squirrels, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, groundhogs, mud turtles, tree frogs, cardinals, crows and hawks.

A program from Memorial Day 1961, when the 43-acre Ferdinand Forest Lake was dedicated, proclaims swimming, boating, hiking and camping are available (along with other activities); the Forest was designed for recreation and pleasure. According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources website, recreation is still the mission, not deforestation.

Kemper encourages everyone to contact their state legislators, along with Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann or Governor Mike Pence to voice objections (see contact info at the end of the story).

Meanwhile, Jim Kemper is willing to arrange another hike to show what could be lost.

Feel free to contact him at 812-367-2945.

Begle concluded, “The hike was very enjoyable,” adding, “Hat’s off to Jim Kemper for trying to do something about this.”

Get involved

Governor Mike Pence: Office of Governor Mike Pence, 200 W. Washington St., Rm. 206, Indianapolis, IN 46204 Phone: 317-232-4567. To send an email go to www.in.gov/gov/2333.htm then select “To contact the governor with questions or comments unrelated to the above, click here.”

Lieutenant Governor Sue Ellspermann: Office of Lt. Governor Ellspermann, 200 W. Washington Street, Room 333, Indianapolis, IN 46204; Send Email; phone 317-232-4545.  The website to send in constituent concerns is www.in.gov/lg/2333.htm.

State Senator Erin Houchin, District 47: 200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204, phone 800-382-9467 or 317-232-9400; Send Mail

State Senator Mark Messmer, District 48: Same address and phone; Send Mail.

State Representative Lloyd Arnold, District 74: Same address; phone: 317-232-9815 or 1-800-382-9841; email Send Mail. Rep. Arnold serves on the Natural Resources committee and is Vice Chair of Agriculture and Rural Development.

State Representative Mike Braun, District 63: Same address: Send Mail or contact him at his personal email, mikek@meyerdistributing.com; phone 317-234-9447 or 1-800-382-9841.

His Legislative Assistant can be reached by calling Jacob Harkin at 317-234-9447.

NOTE: Neither Messmer nor Braun’s district includes the Ferdinand State Forest but both are from Jasper and would be good contacts.