Serious Challenges Facingthe Future of the

Ohio Natural Areas & PreservesProgram

The major private thrust statewide for natural areapreservation began in 1958 when the Ohio Chapterof The Nature Conservancy was founded.

Beginning in 1959, with the acquisition of Lynx Prairie, the OhioChapter of TNC compiled a remarkable record for saving naturalareas including Dysart Woods, Mentor Marsh, Brown’s Lake BogFrame Bog, and Buzzardroost Rock.

By the mid-1960s, it became obvious that private efforts alonecould not stop natural areas from being destroyed by agricultural,residential, and commercial development. Only the State withits resources and power of eminent domain, could protect thebest remaining natural areas in the state.

At its annual meeting in 1966, the Ohio Chapter of TNC calledfor the creation of a state nature preserve system and acommittee was formed to work toward that goal.

In August of 1967, the Ohio House adopted a resolutionsponsored by State Representative Robert A. Holmesexpressing concern over losses of wilderness and threats to the last remnants of Ohio’s natural heritage.

Two years passed before the Ohio Legislative ServiceCommission approved a study of the “means of identifying,locating, and preserving areas of unusual natural significancefor the beneficial use of generations to come.”

We owe a debt of gratitude to those who came before us andworked so hard over so many years to forge a natural areasprogram for the citizens of Ohio, both present and future.

Those in Whose Footsteps We Attempt to Follow: Dr. E Lucy Braun, Professor Emeritus Plant Ecology, University of Cincinnati

Dr. David Blyth, Columbus Audubon Society

Dr. Charles Dambach, Ohio Biological Survey & OSU Natural ResourcesDr. Oliver D. Diller, Head Dept of Forestry, Ohio Agr. Exp. Station, WoosterDr. Richard H. Durrell, Geology Professor, University of CincinnatiDr. J. Arthur Herrick, Professor of Botany, Kent State University

Dr. Kenneth Hunt, Director Glen Helen, Antioch CollegeHon. Robert E. Holmes, Speaker, Ohio House of Representatives

Dr. Charles C. King, Executive Director, Ohio Biological SurveyDr. E. J. Koestner, Director, Dayton Museum of Natural HistoryWilliam Scheele, Director, Cleveland Museum of Natural HistoryDr. Edward S. Thomas, Curator of Natural History, Ohio Historical SocietyWalter A. Tucker, Director, Columbus Metropolitan ParksDr. Warren Wistendahl, Dept of Botany, Ohio UniversityHarold J. Zimmerman, Burroughs Nature Club, Willoughby

As a result of this study, State Senator Clara Weisenborn ofDayton sponsored S.B. 113 calling for the creation of the state’sNatural Areas Program. Senator Weisenborn also had $400,000appropriated for land acquisition in ODNR’s Capital Budget.

The Natural Areas Bill, Amended S.B. 113 which later became anational model, was given final approval by the Ohio GeneralAssembly and was signed into law by Governor James A. RhodesIn 1970.

The Natural Areas Act of 1970 allowed the Ohio Department ofNatural Resources to purchase and administer state naturepreserves and to protect, through dedication, natural areas inboth public and private ownership.

On May 20, 1970, ODNR Director Fred E. Morr handpicked Richard E. Moseley Jr. to put together this new program.

ODNR established a Natural Areas &Scenic Rivers Planning Section in theOffice of Program & Planning toadminister the new natural areas and scenic rivers programs and to providetechnical assistance to the Ohio Natural Areas Council.

Richard E. Moseley, Jr.

With the initial appropriation of $400,000, the Departmentacquired 14 properties totaling 632 acres on six natural areas.In 1971, William B. Nye became the fourth Director of of ODNR under the Gilligan Administration. By 1973, the Natural Areas Program had grown to the extent thatDirector Nye, by Executive Order approved by the Governor, renamed the Division of Forestry to the -

“Division of Forestry and Preserves”

Forestry was reassigned management of all state naturepreserves not contiguous to other state lands managed by either the Division of Parks & Recreation or the Division ofWildlife.

Unfortunately, it just didn’t work out.

In 1975 when James A. Rhodes wasonce again elected governor for whatbecame his second 8 year term inin office, he appointed Dr. Robert W. Teater as the fifth Director of ODNR.

By 1975, the Natural Areas Program hadpurchased 18 areas encompassing 3,398acres and dedicated 8 additional naturalareas.

It had become apparent that in order to consistently andproperly manage the state nature preserves, a new managementstrategy had to be adopted. To that end, Director Teatercreated, by Executive Order with approval of the Governor, a newDivision of Natural Areas & Preserves in February of 1975. Thisnew division was given “permanency” with passage of H.B. 972 inJune of 1976.

Director Robert W. Teater

Chief: Richard E. Moseley

Asst. Chief: Guy L. Denny

Field Operations Mgr:James McGregor(William Loebick)

Ohio Natural HeritageProgram Administrator:Robert McCance

Scenic Rivers Administrator:W. Stu Lewis

Executive Secretary:Kathy Smith

Real Estate Administrator:Steve Goodwin

By 1999, DNAP had grown to 124 natural areas, had a fulltime staff of 48, including 13 preserve managers, an annualoperating budget of about $3.6 million, and was nationally recognized as one of the best natural areas programs inthe nation.

By the year 2000, management within DNAP had changeddramatically. Unlike in its early years, the Division was nolonger being administered by experienced field naturalist.

In 2004, a decision was made within DNAP to transfer OldWoman Creek National Estuarine Sanctuary to the Division of Wildlife.

In 2004, a decision was made within DNAP to disband theOhio Natural Areas Council.

As the original preserve managers retired, they were replacedby non-naturalists.

The. Monitoring & Research Programwas downgraded

In 2009, ODNR Director Sean Logan, faced with severbudget cuts to ODNR’s operating budget, made thedecission to dismantle DNAP as a cost saving measure.

The Scenic Rivers Program was transferred to theDivision of Watercraft.

The Natural Heritage Program with its botanists andecologists was transferred to the Division of Wildlife.

The nine preserve managers were transferred to the Division of Parks & Recreation.

Even under the new Kasich Administration, the StricklandAdministration’s ODNR Director Sean Logan’s plan fordismantling DNAP continues in motion.

Language contained in the Department’s FY 12-13 budgetbill (Sub. H.B. 153) would have officially abolished theDivision of Natural Areas & Preserves as of July 1, 2011, and would have made the DNAP income tax check-off a StateParks and Natural Areas check-off administered by the Chiefof the Division of Parks & Recreation.

Chair of the Ohio House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee

Ohio House District 70

Home Town: Millersburg, inHolmes County

More than 15 years working in the private sector as a pipe inspector

Holmes County Park DistrictDirector in 1995

Holmes County Commissioner1999 - 2008

The Ohio General Assembly adding an additional $2.4million for FY 12-13 apparently in Joint ConferenceCommittee so that the State Nature Preserves would beproperly managed.

This would have been adequate funding if it were usedexclusively to manage state nature preserves and notadditionally used to shore up a financially ailing StateParks System.

Efforts continue to make the Natural Areas Program asub-program in the Division of Parks & Recreation supervised by local district park managers rather thanby trained ecologists/field biologists who understand andare experienced in the challenges and complexities ofnatural areas management.

What are the most serious threats to adedicated State Nature Preserve?

1. Invasive species from both non-native as well as native species of plants and animals

2. Unchecked natural succession

Glossy Buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula)

Autumn-olive(Elaeagnus umbellata)

Ohio Natural Areas & Preserves Association

(ONAPA)

The purpose of ONAPAis to protect Ohio’s NaturalHeritage by bringing togetherorganizations and individualsto help maintain, monitor, restore, and support Ohio’simportant natural areas.

To learn more about ONAPA visit us at www.onapa.org

Ohio Natural Areas & Preserves Association

Help establish preserve “Friends Groups.”

Promote the DNAP income tax check-off.

Promote the DNAP auto license plate.

Monitor the preserves for vandalism,maintenance and other problems.

Send emails and write letters ofsupport when necessary.

(ONAPA)

Recruit and organize volunteers toparticipate in habitat managementand preserve maintenance projects.

Serious Challenges Facingthe Future of the

Ohio Natural Areas & PreservesProgram

ODNR Director Zehringer

Deputy Director (K. Gebhardt)

DNAP Chief

Chief Botanist R. Gardner

Monitoring & Research Volunteer Coordinator J. Kasai

Special ProjectsR. McCance

Natural Areas Advisory Council

Seasonal BotanistsSeasonals

Central Office Volunteer Advisors

Preserve Mgr.S.W. OhioM. Comer

Preserve Mgr.N.W. OhioM. Grote

Preserve Mgr.S.E. Ohio

Boch Hollow

Preserve Mgr.N.E. Ohio

Columbus AudubonSpecial Projects

Statewide Work Group

Individual Preserve

Friends Groups

Natural Heritage Data BaseG. Schneider – D. Woischke

Misc. Volunteers