A new poster that illustrates the savanna ecosystem of northwest Indiana's Lake Michigan coastal area is available for free to the public.
The Indiana DNR Lake Michigan Coastal Program (LMCP) unveiled the poster, "Ecosystems of the Indiana Coastal Region - Savanna," earlier this year.
The poster is part of a series that launched in 2005 and is expected to conclude in 2024 once all 10 ecosystems of northwest Indiana are portrayed. The posters are painted by Whiting artist Barb Labus. They are a collage of colorful landscapes, maps and graphics that explain scientific concepts and identify native plant and animal species.
LMCP manager Mike Molnar said the purpose of the posters is to increase awareness about the area's biodiversity and abundant natural resources.
"It's a wonderful education and outreach tool, perfect for educators of all kinds," Molnar said. "This captivating piece captures the true natural beauty and diversity of the coastal region."
The poster is available for free at Indiana Dunes State Park nature center, the DNR Michigan City office, and the DNR Customer Service Center in Indianapolis. The DNR also will offer leftover posters at the Indiana State Fair in August, although the supply is limited.
All previous posters in the series are also available. Previous posters include: "Overview" (2005); "Lake Michigan" (2007); "The Dunes" (2010); "Dune & Swale" (2012); and "Rivers" (2014). Additional information is available on the LMCP website at dnr.IN.gov/lakemich/9387.htm.
Posters are also available upon request from the DNR Customer Service Center. There is a $5.95 shipping and handling fee for posters requested for delivery. Email cscinquiry@dnr.IN.gov the name of the posters you would like and your contact information. There is a limit of one copy of each poster per request.
The project is administered through LMCP with funding from DNR and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency via the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
To view all DNR news releases, please see dnr.IN.gov.
Media contact: Mike Molnar, director, Lake Michigan Coastal Program, DNR Division of Nature Preserves, (317) 233-0132, mmolnar@dnr.IN.gov.
