OHIO — In honor of its 75th anniversary, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry will take this spring to conduct a commemorative tree planting in all 88 Ohio counties, according to a press release.
“ODNR is celebrating 75 years of conservation all year long and these tree plantings are a great way to emphasize the work the Division of Forestry has done over its history,” Gov. Mike DeWine said in the release. “These trees, which are native to Ohio, symbolize the importance of Ohio’s forests.”
Most of the trees will be planted ahead of April 26, Arbor Day.
The release notes that the Division of Forestry chose native hardwood trees like oak, maple and sycamore. The sapling-size trees will also bear a sign commemorating the ODNR 75th anniversary.
The release also includes some interesting facts about Ohio’s forest history, including that 95% of the land was forested before the Europeans settled the area. The land saw a low of 10% coverage before recovering to about 30%, it states.
“The Division of Forestry has been with the department ever since ODNR was created and has a rich history that extends beyond 1949,” ODNR Director Mary Mertz said in the release. “The fact that forest cover has grown over the last 75 years is a testament to what this division can do.”