The Nature Conservancy Supports Budget Stability for ODNR

Ohio's Natural Resources Deserve Adequate Protection

DUBLIN, OHIO — April 10, 2007 — Stable funding for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is essential to protect Ohio’s lands, water and other natural resources while at the same time providing affordable recreation for Ohio families, the state director of The Nature Conservancy told lawmakers on Thursday.

“The facilities at our state parks – which once received national acclaim for their quality – are suffering from a $300 million maintenance backlog,” said Richard Shank, state director for the Conservancy in Ohio. Shank testified Thursday before the House Finance & Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and Development. (Read the full testimony here.)

Shank said cuts to ODNR’s general revenue funding in recent biennial budgets have made it difficult for the department to maintain adequate levels of staff and services at state parks, forests, nature preserves and wildlife areas. Since 2000, funding cuts have led to a 17 percent decrease in staffing levels at the Department.

“Public amenities, from boating access to hunting areas and hiking trails, suffer equally from the tight departmental budgets, even as more families look for affordable recreation close to home.”

The Nature Conservancy supports the budget proposed by Gov. Ted Strickland, which essentially maintains a level budget over the next two years, Shank said. The Conservancy is especially pleased to see continued support for Ohio’s Natural Heritage Database, which maintains information about rare plants and communities in Ohio.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 102 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.