David Bohl is one of those unique people who sees themself as part of the bigger picture.  For more than twenty years he has been volunteering his time as a trustee for The Nature Conservancy in Ohio, where he puts his idealism to work. 

Bohl has been instrumental in overseeing the Conservancy’s development into a strong, accomplished organization, one that has reached numerable conservation milestones with his staunch support and commitment.

A native of southern Ohio, Bohl developed an early appreciation for the state’s natural heritage while growing up amid the rolling foothills of Appalachia.  One of the most biologically diverse collections of natural systems in the Midwest, this Appalachian escarpment was a field trip destination for Bohl as a young student.

“I was profoundly affected by my junior high science teacher,” Bohl recalls.  “He would take us to select natural areas and we’d spend the day looking at the stark contrast between the relatively flat glacial topography of Brown County and the unglaciated hills and valleys of eastern Adams County.”

It was during one of those trips that Bohl first visited what is now the Conservancy’s Edge of Appalachia Preserve. “I remember thinking that I wanted to come back someday and help save this very special place,” Bohl says. 

Inspired by the enthusiasm of Richard and Lucile Durrell, who were instrumental in establishing the preserve, Bohl quickly developed an appreciation for the Conservancy and its efforts to protect biodiversity not only at the Edge of Appalachia, but also throughout the state and around the world.   

Bohl was first elected to the Board of Trustees in 1980, a time when staff in Ohio numbered much less than today and the organization had already worked to protect more than 11,000 acres of some of the state’s most precious natural areas. 

“Back then, we operated at a much smaller scale, but it didn’t feel limited as we were always stretching to come up with a unique way to protect the next important natural area,” Bohl says. 

To date, Bohl has played an important role in overseeing and supporting the organization’s efforts to protect more than 40,000 acres in Ohio, including 13,500 acres at the Edge of Appalachia. 

As chair of the Board of Trustees from 2004-2006, Bohl led efforts to meet the organization’s 2015 Goal to, “…ensure the effective conservation of places that represent at least 10% of every Major Habitat Type on Earth.” 

“I am proud of the organization’s laser-sharp focus to protect biodiversity while evolving an understanding of the world as an interconnection of relatively small places like ‘the Edge’ to our global ecosystem,” Bohl says. 

Though his term as chair ended in October of 2006, Bohl continues to volunteer with the Conservancy as an honorary life trustee.

“I hope that my involvement has in some small way helped to protect the natural world for future generations,” Bohl says.  “Each time I walk along a trail at ‘the Edge’, I feel a warm, fuzzy feeling deep inside and reflect that - through the loving devotion of volunteers, donors and staff - this place will outlive all of us and provide a similar feeling to our great-grandchildren.” 

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Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © Mark Godfrey/TNC (Edge of Appalachia Preserve); Photo © Gina Bohl (David Bohl).