Regions
From the glacial waters of the Great Lakes to the limestone cliffs of the Interior Plateau, Indiana’s regions encompass many diverse habitats and species. Planning regions allow partners working in different sections of the state to collaborate on the development and implementation of the State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP). These regions also delineate the needs, threats, and opportunities of those systems. Some partners may have interest in one or multiple regions because of similar ecosystems or species. In the 2025 Indiana SWAP, six regions were identified by their unique natural communities.
Explore Indiana’s regions, online and in person. The links below expand on the unique habitats, fish, and wildlife of each region, the environmental pressures located in each, and opportunities for conservation.
Selection of Regions
The regions selected for the 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) follow those established in the 2015 SWAP. There are six regions: Great Lakes, Kankakee, Corn Belt, Valleys and Hills, Interior Plateau, and Drift Plains.
These were developed based on major watersheds, Omernik’s level four ecoregions, and Homoya’s natural regions. The Kankakee and Great Lakes regions are adequate representations of their natural communities without further subdivision; however, the Ohio River watershed includes two-thirds of Indiana and contains a variety of wildlife and habitats too diverse for a single effective planning region. Therefore, it was further divided using Omernik’s level three ecoregions for southern Indiana — the Corn Belt , Valleys and Hills, and Interior Plateau regions. Finally, the Drift Plains region was identified and separated from the Corn Belt by Homoya’s systems and Omernik’s level four ecoregions.
This map shows the six regions referenced in the 2015 and 2025 Indiana SWAP.
For more information, contact us:
SWAP@dnr.IN.gov
317-234-8440
