Ohio is fortunate to have a diverse group of ecosystems scattered throughout the state. Read more about the ecosystems and find useful resources on this page.
The central and norther portions of the state have been historically dominated by swamps and forested wetlands leading up to the Lake Erie coastal plain. Plenty of migratory bird refuge habitat across the southern coast of Lake Erie offers birders plenty of opportunities. Northeast Ohio is home to Cuyahoga Valley National Forest, Ohio’s only national park. Once expanding across the central and western portions of Ohio, the Great Black Swamp consisted of marshes, wet prairies, and forested wetlands. The majority of this area was drained and settled for it’s agricultural value. This loss of habitat and stormwater runoff treatment and storage has led to frequent toxic algal blooms in Lake Erie. Multiple large scale efforts have been made in the past few decades to restore and protect remnants of this diverse and important ecosystem.
In the southern and eastern portions of Ohio, the western foot hills of the Appalachian Mountains begin to form offering spectacular views and a refuge for threatened or endangered flora and fauna. The Nature Conservancy of Ohio preserves around 20,000 acres of this area as the Edge of Appalachia Nature Preserve. The future goal is to connect Edge of Appalachia to the existing Shawnee State Forest in the far southeastern portion of the state.
Organizations Active in Restoration:
Appalachia Ohio Alliance
Ohio Department of Natural Resources Ohio
Natural Areas and Preserves Association
Ohio Prairie Association
Black Swamp Conservancy
Beaver Creek Wetlands Association
Cleveland Metro Parks Cleveland
Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks
Five Rivers Metro Parks
Great Parks of Hamilton County
Nature Conservancy of Ohio
Three Valleys Conservation Land Trust
Western Reserve Land Conservancy
SER MWGL Student Chapter at The Ohio State University out standing in their field.
