The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry has invited the public to attend any of three virtual open houses to learn more about management plans for Ohio’s state forests. Held annually, this year’s open houses are scheduled for early November.
“The Ohio Division of Forestry envisions healthy, diverse forests valued for the life-sustaining benefits they provide now and forever,” said Dan Balser, chief of the Division of Forestry. “Your input during the open house process is a crucial component of our strategic planning to ensure the sustainable use and protection of Ohio’s public forest lands.”
Division of Forestry’s forest managers and foresters develop annual work plans to guide management activities for 23 state forests in Ohio 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 virtual meetings hosted on Microsoft Teams Live:
Monday, November 2 @ 5:00 PM – Athens District State Forests Open House
Wednesday, November 4 @ 5:00 PM – Chillicothe District State Forests Open House
Thursday, November 5 @ 5:00 PM – Northern State Forests Open House
To register for one of these virtual Open House events, visit Forestry.ohiodnr.gov to complete a registration form. Or, you may send an email with your name and the open house you wish to attend to: [email protected]. A link to the Microsoft Teams Live event that you requested will then be emailed to you. These Open House events will be recorded for future viewing and reference. Participants will need to download the free Microsoft Teams app to a computer or mobile device.
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 the draft annual work plans are posted on the Division of Forestry website at Forestry.ohiodnr.gov.
