Indiana project protects 3,950 acres of former coal-mining land
The Busseron Creek Fish and Wildlife Area was established after a small property listing triggered a larger conservation effort.
A conservation effort in Sullivan County, Indiana, has resulted in the permanent protection of 3,950 acres of land, according to a Times of India report. The area, now known as the Busseron Creek Fish and Wildlife Area, includes forests, wetlands, and former coal-mining ground.
The project began in late 2022 when the Conservation Law Center's Southern Indiana Sentinel Landscape team identified a 191-acre parcel for sale. This smaller piece of land was part of a larger holding owned by American Land Holdings of Indiana, a subsidiary of Peabody Energy.
The Conservation Fund initially purchased the 191-acre parcel to prevent it from being sold separately. This allowed for negotiations to secure the entire 3,950-acre holding to prevent the landscape from being divided into private plots.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources completed the acquisition of the land, valued at over $12 million, in December 2024. Funding was provided by several organisations, including the US Navy, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, The Nature Conservancy, the State of Indiana, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
The property sits between the western tallgrass prairie and the central hardwood forest, supporting wildlife such as deer, wild turkey, and migratory waterfowl. It is located near the US Navy's Lake Glendora Test Facility.
The Busseron Creek Fish and Wildlife Area opened in April 2025. Managed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources' Division of Fish and Wildlife, the site is available for activities including hunting, fishing, hiking, and foraging.