Proceeds from the Environmental License Plate support the President Benjamin Harrison Conservation Trust, which has a mission to ensure that Indiana’s rich natural heritage is preserved for future generations. Learn more about the President Benjamin Harrison Conservation Trust.
Since 1992, sales of the Environmental Plate have been used to purchase and protect more than 74,000 acres of Indiana’s natural and cultural heritage on behalf of all Hoosiers. When you buy an Environmental License Plate, your investment goes toward:
- Nature Preserves (>19,000 acres protected)
- State Parks (>3,000 acres acquired as additions to 24 state parks and recreation areas)
- State Forests (>11,000 acres added to state forests)
- Fish & Wildlife Areas (>36,000 acres protected)
- Local Parks and Trails (>3,000 acres protected in local park systems and recreational trails)
- State Historic Sites (23 projects benefiting 10 historic sites)
This translates into more areas for Hoosiers to enjoy:
- Hiking
- Biking
- Camping
- Hunting
- Fishing
- Birdwatching
74,000+
Acres Protected
46,686
Plates Sold in 2025
75
Counties with PBCHT Investment
FAQs about the license plate
For instructions, please visit: https://www.in.gov/dnr/land-acquisition/environmental-license-plate/purchase-a-plate/
The Environmental License Plate costs $40 in addition to vehicle registration fees and taxes. The PBHCT receives $25, and the remaining $15 is an administrative fee collected by the BMV.
According to DNR folklore:
| Acronym | Meaning | Acronym | Meaning | Acronym | Meaning | Acronym | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AD | Arbor Day | FW | Fish & Wildlife | LM | Lake Michigan | QU | Quails Unlimited |
| CN | Conservation | GW | Greenways | NC | Nature Conservancy | RT | Sportsman's Roundtable |
| DU | Ducks Unlimited | HE | Hoosier Environment | NR | Natural Resources | WF | Wildlife Federation |
| ED | Earth Day | HP | Historic Preservation | OR | Outdoor Recreation | WT | Wild Turkey |
| EN | Environment | HT | Harrison Trust | PF | Pheasant's Forever |
Of course! Donate by mailing a check to:
Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Attn: PBHCT
402 W. Washington St., Room W255-E
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Benjamin Harrison’s contributions to land conservation spanned his time as a U.S. senator from Indiana and as U.S. president from 1889-1893.
In 1882, then Senator Harrison introduced a bill to preserve land along the Colorado River. Although the bill did not pass, the idea led to establishment of Grand Canyon National Park in 1919.
In 1888, Harrison became the first and only president to be elected from the state of Indiana. President Harrison pushed Congress to pass legislation that changed management of western forestlands. He then used the law 17 times to set aside 22 million acres in California, Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, and the Alaska and Arizona territories that eventually became national forests. It also was the basis for creation of the Indiana Division of Forestry in 1903.
Harrison opened three national parks (Sequoia, Yosemite, and General Grant) and approved federal protection for prehistoric ruins at Casa Grande, Arizona, that are now a national monument managed by the National Park Service.
Projects are submitted by DNR divisions or the State Museum and Historic Sites. The PBHCT Project Commission meets quarterly to review the submitted projects and make recommendations to the Governor for his approval. Project Commission Meetings and Minutes.
A conservation easement is a voluntary, legal agreement that permanently limits the use of land to protect its conservation values. Conservation easements may be granted by private landowners to a land trust or a governmental agency or by a land trust to a governmental agency. The landowner retains some property rights, while agreeing to preserve the land for conservation purposes.
Renewing your environmental license plate?