The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) aims to develop and wisely use the state's natural resources to promote the health, happiness, and wholesome enjoyment of life for the people of Ohio. ODNR is responsible for managing over 800,000 acres of land, including state parks, forests, nature preserves, and wildlife areas, overseeing more than 120,000 acres of inland waters, licensing hunting, fishing, and watercraft, monitoring dam safety, managing water resources, mapping geologic structures, permitting mineral extraction, and providing outdoor grant programs to communities.
The Ohio Forest Legacy Program aims to protect environmentally significant forests from being converted into non-forest uses, primarily through the acquisition of conservation easements. This initiative, leveraging federal funds and local cost-sharing efforts, focuses on safeguarding working forests while promoting their environmental, social, cultural, and economic values. Specific objectives include protecting forests under threat, enhancing biodiversity and water quality, improving social and cultural values linked to forest uses, and boosting economic productivity through traditional forest activities.