Protecting Places Crucial for Nature in Ohio
Ohio’s natural areas are as bountiful as they are beautiful. Discover how we're safeguarding biodiversity through land protection across the state.
Ohio's Land Protection Efforts Prioritize Biodiversity
Climate change and loss of biodiversity threaten the future of people and nature worldwide. The Nature Conservancy is addressing these interconnected issues by conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. As part of our 2030 goals, we are working to protect 30% of land and water to help stop irreversible biodiversity loss this decade. This includes conserving 1.6 billion acres of land, 620,000 miles of river and 74 million acres of lakes and wetlands globally.
Here in Ohio, we’re doing our part by conserving valuable habitats that will help us achieve our climate and biodiversity goals. By protecting and restoring habitats like wetlands, streams, rivers, lakes and forests, TNC is helping to reconnect fragmented habitats for plants and wildlife while ensuring the resiliency of these systems to support people and nature in a changing climate.
Here Are Some of the Natural Areas We've Recently Protected
Petrovich Property
Acquired in August 2023
Petrovich Tract: The rocky landscape of the Petrovich tract will help to protect endangered Allegheny woodrat habitat. © Terry Seidel/TNC
Allegheny Woodrat: The state listed endangered Allengheny woodrat nibbling on some food. © Rich McCarty/TNC
Plant Diversity: Protection of the Petrovich property also helps to protect Ohio native plants like this twin leaf plant and delphinium. © Terry Seidel/TNC
Yellow Buckeye Grove: A grove of yellow buckeye trees stands within the Petrovich property. © Terry Seidel/TNC
This small but mighty tract of land at the Edge of Appalachia Preserve (EOA) will help protect the state endangered Allegheny woodrat. At just over 3 acres it is not the largest property TNC has protected, but its location is critical to protecting woodrat habitat, which is limited in Ohio to a small area in and around the EOA preserve. Related to the more famous pack rats of the western U.S., the woodrat, which looks more like a large mouse than a rat, has a penchant for collecting objects. Funding for this acquisition was made possible by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife.
Fuzzy Five Tract
Acquired August 2023
Fuzzy Five Tract: This new acquisition protects Appalachian hardwood forest in southern Ohio. © Terry Seidel/TNC
Fuzzy Five Tract: Protection of the Fuzzy Five tract helps to connect the Edge of Appalachia Preserve with the Shawnee State Forest. © Terry Seidel/TNC
Ohio River: View of the Ohio River from newly protected property in southern Ohio. © Terry Seidel/TNC
Dwarf Crested Iris: Dwarf crested iris is one of many native flowering plants found within the newly protected Fuzzy Five property. © Terry Seidel/TNC
Located on a high bluff overlooking the Ohio River and the hills of Kentucky, the Fuzzy Five tract is 250 acres of Appalachian hardwood forest adjacent to Shawnee State Forest. The acquisition is part of TNC's effort to conserve one of Ohio’s most resilient forested landscapes, which is anchored by the 65,0000-acre Shawnee State Forest and the 21,000 acre Edge of Appalachia Preserve.
Dwarf Larkspur: The Portman tract boasts many beautiful blooms like this dwarf larkspur (Delphinium tricorne). © Terry Seidel/TC
Peebles Dolomite: A Peebles dolomite rock outcropping extends into the forest at Edge of Appalachia Preserve. © Terry Seidel/TNC
Ohio Brush Creek: Ohio Brush Creek is one of the most resilient watersheds in the eastern United States. © Terry Seidel/TNC
Tulip Trees: The Portman tract protects extensive wooded slopes of the valley wall of the Ohio Brush Creek. © Terry Seidel/TNC
Snow Trillium: Protection of the Moore tract helps to safeguard a population of uncommon snow trillium on adjacent property. © Terry Seidel/TNC
Moss Covered Boulder: The Edge of Appalachia Preserve protects many interesting geological features. © Terry Seidel/TNC
Virginia Bluebells: Spring ephemerals like these bluebells paint the forest floor with splashes of color at Edge of Appalachia Preserve. © Terry Seidel/TNC
Geology: Large slump blocks offer visitors a peek into geologic history at Edge of Appalachia Preserve. © Terry Seidel/TNC
Heron Rookery: Protection of the Moore tract preserves a heron rookery along Ohio Brush Creek. © Terry Seidel/Tnc
Ohio Brush Creek Plants: Horsetail (Equisetum) growing along Ohio Brush Creek. © Terry Seidel/TNC
In spring 2023, TNC acquired two properties that protect Ohio Brush Creek, one of the most resilient watersheds in the eastern U.S. The 35-acre Wayne Moore tract protects a quarter mile of Ohio Brush Creek frontage, which includes part of a great blue heron rookery. The land is wooded with small ephemeral tributaries and an occasional slump block of Peebles dolomite. Protecting the Moore tract also helps to safeguard a population of uncommon snow trillium (Trillium nivale) population on an adjacent tract of protected land while preserving the quality of Ohio Brush Creek.
Generously donated by Jan and Wym Portman, the 154-acre Portman tract at Edge of Appalachia Preserve in Adams County protects a quarter mile of Ohio Brush Creek and one-third of a mile of Beasley Fork. The property also boasts extensive wooded slopes of the Ohio Brush Creek valley wall. The land has small cliffs of Peebles dolomite and a few small sinkholes. Protection of this land helps preserve a portion of the incredible view visitors see when they look out on the Ohio Brush Creek valley from the top of Buzzardroost Rock.
Frame Tract
Acquired January 2023
Frame Tract Prairie: The addition of the Frame tract to Edge of Appalachia Preserve helps protect rare, dry limestone prairie. © Terry Seidel/TNC
Freshwater Tributary: Protection of the Frame tract at Edge of Appalachia Preserve helps protect 1/3 of a mile of Middle Branch Run, a tributary of Scioto Brush Creek. © Terry Seidel/TNC
Freshwater Protection: The growth of the Edge of Appalachia Preserve helps protect important freshwater resources like this waterfall. © Terry Seidel/TNC
Geology at Edge of Appalachia: Dating back to the Silurian period, peebles dolomite rock formations can be found throughout the Edge of Appalachia Preserve. © Terry Seidel/TNC
Nearly adjacent to Lynx Prairie, the 98-acre Frame tract is part of the larger Lynx Prairie landscape. The property is marked by rolling hills, dolomite cliffs and rocky streams that encompass one of the most extensive landscapes in Ohio of very rare, dry limestone prairie. The area supports three state-listed species, including Uhler’s sundragon (Helocordulia uhleri), jelly lichen (Enchylium coccophorum) and a state-threatened soil lichen (Placidium squamulosum). The forests and prairies of the Edge of Appalachia protect one of Ohio’s most valuable resources—fresh water. The Frame tract helps protect nearly one-third of a mile of Middle Branch Run and three-fourths of a mile of spring-fed tributaries, all feeding into Scioto Brush Creek, one of Ohio’s highest-quality streams.
Rich Tract Bog Habitat: Protection of the Rich tract adds to the preservation of wetland and bog habitat at Morgan Swamp. © Terry Seidel/TNC
Rich Tract Forest: Sphagnum moss hummocks cover the forest floor at the Rich tract. © Terry Seidel/TNC
Abandoned Beaver Pond: Recently abandoned beaver ponds at Morgan Swamp Preserve. © Terry Seidel/TNC
Meadow at Morgan Swamp: Joe-pye weed and giant goldenrod abloom in the wet meadows at Morgan Swamp Preserve. © Terry Seidel/TNC
Joe-pye Weed: Joe-pye weed blooms at Morgan Swamp. © Terry Seidel/TNC
Swamp Forest: Protection of the Rich tract at Morgan Swamp helps protect important swamp forest habitat. © Terry Seidel/TNC
Plants at Morgan Swamp: Northern long sedge (Carex folliculata) grows in the forest at Morgan Swamp. © Terry Seidel/TNC
Bog at Morgan Swamp: The Rich tract contains bog habitat with rare plant species. © Terry Seidel/TNC
Bog Habitat at Morgan Swamp: Morgan Swamp contains critical wetland habitat like this bog. © Terry Seidel/TNC
Beaver Pond at Morgan Swamp: Morgan swamp is home to many animals including beavers, otters and a variety of birds. © Terry Seidel/TNC
Located in Ashtabula County, the Rich tract adds 100 acres to the Morgan Swamp Preserve, which now protects 2,154 acres. The Rich tract is a crown-jewel-type addition to the core area of the preserve. It protects the remainder of the largest New England bog on the preserve, the largest population of Virginia chain fern in Ohio as well as the only population on the preserve of state potentially threatened Woodland horsetail (Equisitum sylvaticum). Protection of this massive wetland area helps ensure that the Grand River remains one of the most biodiverse tributaries in the entire Lake Erie watershed.
Land Protection Over the Years
Visit an Open Preserve
While not all of TNC's properties are open to the public, we're proud to support eight open preserves where the public can enjoy access to the best of Ohio nature. Check out the map for more information about our open preserves and plan your visit today.
Ohio Open Preserves From hiking and kayaking to birdwatching and wildflower spotting, our preserves offer a diversity of outdoor activities that are fun for the whole family.
Help us protect the lands and waters you love in Ohio and beyond.
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