The Center for Conservation & Biodiversity unites the Museum’s conservation-related activities to further the protection and stewardship of the region’s native biodiversity. Since its early efforts in the mid-1950s by then-Museum director William Scheele, the Museum has evolved into a conservation leader in the region by continuing to find and acquire natural areas, caring for existing properties with an active stewardship program and assisting other nonprofit conservation organizations with scientific assessments of projects.
The Natural Areas program began in 1965, and currently protects more than 6,000 acres, including several conservation easements for S+W across Northeast Ohio.
S+W has assisted and partnered with the Metro Parks on numerous projects in Central Ohio. These projects include:
S+W recently partnered with the Geauga Park District to acquire and establish the Pine Brook wetlands mitigation bank, the first preservation wetlands mitigation bank in Ohio.
Following completion of monitoring requirements, S+W will donate the Fish Creek property to the City of Kent.
S+W has a long-standing relationship with the ODNR Division of Wildlife. Following completion of the monitoring requirements, S + W has donated, or will donate, the following projects, totaling over 1,700 acres, to the Division of Wildlife for public educational and recreational use:
S+W partnered with the Metroparks of Toledo to establish the Pearson Metropark wetlands mitigation bank.
The Ashtabula County Metroparks has grown into one of the best loved systems in the country while demonstrating a commitment to effectively stewarding natural and financial resources.
Launched in 2019, H2Ohio is a comprehensive water quality initiative that is working to strategically address serious water issues that have been building in Ohio for decades. H2Ohio was created through unprecedented collaboration, using strategies that are long-term, sustainable, science-based and cost-effective.
Preservation Parks is committed to preserving Delaware County’s natural areas, which are home to thousands of native plant and animal species and are special places for people. Park District conservation efforts focus on land acquisition, prairie and wetland restoration, reforestation and invasive species management in an effort to improve wildlife habitat.
S+W is a proud partner with Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs which advances student research in watershed and wetlands programs. In addition to expanded research, our partnership enables the school to increase its academic support of the Master of Science in Environmental Studies and other programs with applied watershed and wetlands projects.
Our support increases funding for talented students to gain practical experience with environmental research projects under the direction of faculty and staff.
The University of Akron Field Station is located on the 411 acre Bath Nature Preserve, and is a partnership between UA and Bath Parks. It is located approximately 2 miles west of the 33,000 acre Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and between the large metropolitan areas of Cleveland and Akron/Canton. Housed in the Dr. Paul E. Martin Center for Field Studies and Environmental Education, the UA Field Station is uniquely situated for studies of anthropogenic change in the highly impacted Cuyahoga Valley.
Land Management Group, Inc. (LMG) was established in 1991 to offer an array of environmental services throughout the Southeast. Their mission simply is based on solving their client’s environmental needs in the most honest, scientific and efficient manner.
S+W works with LMG on the Northeast Cape Fear mitigation bank in North Carolina.
Wetlands Resource Center, led by Cal Miller of Pickerington, Ohio, is a mitigation bank sponsor and provides permittee responsible mitigation to permit applicants. They have worked extensively throughout Ohio and North Carolina. S+W has partnered with the Wetlands Resource Center on several projects, including 65,296 linear feet of stream mitigation for the Portsmouth Bypass in Southern Ohio and the Northeast Cape Fear Mitigation Bank located near Wilmington, North Carolina.
The Wilds is a private, non-profit conservation center located on nearly 10,000 acres of reclaimed mine land in rural southeastern Ohio. It was created as the conservation center of the future by a group of civic leaders, political leaders and zoo professionals who believed that a serious scientific approach was required to find solutions to environmental concerns.
From its inception, the Wilds has been envisioned as a facility that combines cutting-edge conservation science and education programs with unique visitor opportunities.
S+W was honored to support the Wilds in the development of the Lake Trail facility, one of the many destinations on the safari tour which allows visitors, using a variety of options, to pick their own Personal Adventures in Conservation Education (P.A.C.E.).
Western Reserve Land Conservancy (WRLC) is a non-profit conservation organization dedicated to preserving land throughout the Western Reserve region of Northeast Ohio. WRLC works with landowners, communities, government agencies, and other non-profit organizations to protect natural areas and working landscapes.
The Trust for Public Land conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, gardens, and other natural places, ensuring livable communities for generations to come.
Since 1951, The Nature Conservancy has been using science and partnerships to protect Earth’s most important natural places for you and future generations.
The mission of the Black Swamp Conservancy is to encourage conservation and protection of natural and agricultural lands in Northwest Ohio for the benefit of future generations. The Black Swamp Conservancy holds the conservation easement at the Pearson Metropark wetlands mitigation bank, in Oregon Ohio.
We are always looking for new ways to expand our positive impact and continue to foster relationships with the new partners and friends throughout Ohio and North Carolina.
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