Ohio

Since 1985, the Fund and its partners have protected more than 122,000 acres in Ohio, including sensitive wildlife habitat on Lake Erie’s North Bass Island and popular recreation lands near Cleveland.

Vinton Furnace State Experimental Forest & Vinton Furnace State Wildlife Area

The Fund was part of a collaboration of public and private organizations and agencies that worked for four years to establish Ohio's newest state forest, the 12,089-acre Vinton Furnace State Experimental Forest, as well as the neighboring 3,405-acre Vinton Furnace State Wildlife Area.

The Vinton Furnace Experimental Forest is one of the most biologically diverse woodlands in the country and has hosted on-going forest research for more than 50 years. Located 75 miles southeast of Columbus, the forest is home to the state’s largest known population of bobcats, and is also home to black bears, timber rattlesnakes, cerulean warblers and several rare plant species.

“The Vinton Furnace State Experimental Forest and Wildlife Area represents an innovative model for conservation that will play a vital role in improving southeast Ohio’s economy while protecting wildlife and furthering educational research," said Governor Ted Strickland.

"In keeping with The Conservation Fund's goal to preserve our nation's working forests, we're thrilled to support this terrific effort," said Dan Sakura, vice president of The Conservation Fund’s government relations.

The Holden Arboretum

Less than an hour’s drive from Cleveland, The Holden Arboretum offers a colorful escape into nature. The 3,500-acre arboretum—one of the nation’s largest—offers magnificent gardens, miles of hiking trails and exhibits showcasing more than 5,000 plants, many native to Ohio. Thanks to The Milton and Tamar Maltz Family Foundation, we were able to provide a loan through our Land Trust Loan Program that allowed the arboretum to protect 90 acres of forests, lakes and headwater streams that impact the health of the Great Lakes Basin watershed.

Ale's Run Wildlife Management Area

Working with B&N Coal, the Ohio Department of Natural Resource's Division of Wildlife and the Wild Turkey Federation, we purchased 2,905 acres of rolling hardwood forest and meadows. These reclaimed Ohio coal lands now provide a highly productive habitat for white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse and turkey. With this addition, the Fund has acquired nearly 50,000 acres for the Division of Wildlife - just about half of the Ohio's present holdings.

North Bass Island

Most of North Bass Island, one of Lake Erie’s last undeveloped islands, is now protected thanks to the critical support of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. The Conservation Fund facilitated negotiations between private landowners and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to safeguard the 600 acres of the island, including its uncommon coastal resources and sensitive wetlands.

Spruce Hill Works

The most extraordinary achievements of the people of the Hopewell culture were the huge earthworks they built, including walls of stone and earth to surround their ceremonial places. About two thousand years ago they built a stone wall that encloses 150 acres on a hilltop known as Spruce Hill in the scenic Paint Valley river corridor in the Arc of Appalachia region, west of Chillicothe and near Hopewell Culture National Historical Park. Our loan to the Archaeological Conservancy enabled the purchase of this 238-acre property which was to be sold at public auction.