ODNR Invites Public to State Forest Open House Meetings
Photo courtesy of ODNR.
ODNR Invites Public to State Forest Open House Meetings
Open houses scheduled to discuss Ohio’s state forest management activities
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry invites the public to attend any of four regional open houses to learn more about management plans for Ohio’s state forests. Held annually, this year’s open houses are scheduled for late July and early August.
“Our state forests offer many ecological and economic benefits to Ohio,” said Dan Balser, chief of the Division of Forestry. “The open house process allows us to strategically plan for the future, and we carefully consider comments from the many constituents and users of our diverse state forests.”
Division of Forestry forest managers and foresters develop annual work plans to guide management activities for each of Ohio’s 22 state forests covering more than 200,000 acres combined. These open houses provide an opportunity for the public to better understand and comment on Ohio’s plans for sustainable forestry, which include recreation, treating invasive species, prescribed burning and timber cruising and harvesting.
The public is welcome to attend, ask questions and submit written comments on state forest management plans at any of the following meetings:
Athens – (Sunfish Creek, Perry, Blue Rock, Hocking, Shade River, Tar Hollow, Gifford, Vinton Furnace and Zaleski state forests)
Wednesday, July 31, from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Athens District Office
360 E. State St., Athens 45701
For more information, call 740-272-8519.
Findlay – (Maumee and Mohican-Memorial state forests)
Thursday, August 1, from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Findlay District Office
952 Lima Avenue, Findlay 45840
For more information, call 419-424-5004.
Chillicothe – (Scioto Trail, Richland Furnace, Pike, Dean, Brush Creek, and Shawnee state forests)
Tuesday, August 6, from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Chillicothe District Office
345 Allen Ave., Chillicothe 45601
For more information, call 740-774-1596, ext.101.
Bloomingdale – (Yellow Creek, Fernwood, Harrison, Beaver Creek, and Cravat state forests)
Wednesday, August 7, from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Fernwood State Forest Office
11 Township Road 181, Bloomingdale 43910
For more information, call 440.971.1053, ext. 1.
Comments will be accepted for up to 30 days after the respective open house, at which time they will be considered as the plans are finalized. Open house information and annual work plans will also be posted on the Division of Forestry website at forestry.ohiodnr.gov.
The Division of Forestry promotes the wise use and sustainable management of Ohio’s public and private woodlands. To learn more about Ohio’s woodlands, visit forestry.ohiodnr.gov. Follow us on Instagram at @odnrforestry (instagram.com/odnrforestry).
ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.
