Page 11 - Leisure Living Magazine July 2019

The Nature Conservancy Protects Precious Places & More
By Melissa Molenda
When you think back on all the precious natural areas you’ve vis- ited in your life, chances are many are right here in Ohio, and some may still be here because of The Nature Conservan- cy (TNC).
While all of the plac-
es TNC has saved have
an infinite beauty by
their nature, TNC pro-
tects properties based on
ecological value. What
started as a small land
trust in 1951 by ecolo-
gists hoping to protect
fragile habitat from de-
struction has now grown
into a global organization built on finding prac- tical, natural solutions to the world’s biggest envi- ronmental challenges.
The Ohio Chapter of TNC started in 1959 with a land purchase of 42 acres of prairie in south- ern Ohio’s Adams County. Since then, TNC has protected nearly 65,000 acres across the Buckeye State and has helped to restore tens of thousands of additional acres. Nearby Magee Marsh Wild- life Area and Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge are among the more than 15,000 acres of coastal wet- land habitat that TNC has helped to restore in this
The Great Marsh by Photographer Kent Mason
region alone.
Ohio’s coastal wetlands are critical to our
Great Lakes ecosystem – they give birds a place to rest and refuel during long migration routes and provide spawning habitat for fish. Perhaps more importantly, they serve as buffers and fil- ters, absorbing excessive nutrients and sediment that contribute to harmful algal blooms while also slowing down stormwaters that can cause flood- ing.
TNC’s Great Egret Marsh Preserve, located in Marblehead across the road from East Harbor State Park, is one such coastal wetland. Visitors are welcome at the 150-acre site, which TNC has been carefully restoring.
“We’ve planted more than 15,000 native trees, enhanced fish habitat through improved water management efforts, and recently installed a nest- ing tower to attract ospreys,” said Matt Kovach, Lake Erie coasts and islands project manager.
Another place to consider exploring up-close is TNC’s Kitty Todd Preserve, about 15 miles west of Toledo. The 1,400-acre preserve is considered
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