Support Nature Preserves & Scenic Rivers on Your Ohio Tax Return
Ohio taxpayers can make a significant contribution to Ohio's nature preserves by simply making a donation to the Natural Areas, Scenic Rivers and Endangered Species fund on their state income tax return form.
Donations to the Natural Areas income tax check-off program are used for land acquisition, new facility development and educational projects at Ohio's 134 state nature preserves and 14 state scenic rivers.
Those who are not eligible for a refund may send a check to the Division of Natural Areas & Preserves, 2045 Morse Road, Bldg. F-1, Columbus, OH 43229.
Support Scenic Rivers on Your Vehicle
Choose a scenic Ohio stream with leaping sport fish or a stately great blue heron for your vehicle's license plate to show your support for the state's Scenic Rivers. The plates are available through the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) and local deputy registrars.
Sales of the attractive plates, which cost an additional  $25 beyond the standard annual license fee, benefit the Ohio Scenic Rivers Protection Fund. The Ohio Scenic Rivers Protection Fund receives $15 from each purchase or renewal.
Administered by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the fund helps protect and restore scenic river forest corridors, improve water quality and river habitat for endangered species, facilitate river clean-ups and the Ohio Stream Quality Monitoring Project, and promote river conservation and education.
Since the creation of Ohio’s scenic rivers license plate in 1995, more than 115,000 plates have been sold, generating $1.7 million for the Ohio Scenic Rivers Protection Fund.
How You Can Help
The natural areas and scenic rivers programs are an extension of public concern about Ohio's natural heritage. Citizens may assist in protection efforts in a variety of ways.
A volunteer program enables individuals to take an active part in preserving Ohio's natural heritage. volunteers can play an important role in the division's work of protecting, managing and interpreting our natural areas and scenic rivers. Activities which use volunteers include preserve activities and stream quality monitoring.
Citizens may help Ohio's natural heritage financially. Legislation enacted in 1983 gives taxpayers the opportunity to donate any portion of their Ohio state income tax refund to the preservation of natural areas, scenic rivers and endangered species. A donation on the Natural Areas, Scenic Rivers and Endangered Species Checkoff line of the state income tax form supports natural areas acquisition, education programs, scientific research, technical, technical assistance and protection of threatened and endangered plants and animals.
Ohioans who wish to help Ohio's natural areas but are not eligible to receive a state income tax refund may make a direct contribution to the Natural Areas Checkoff Program in the care of the division of Natural Areas and Preserves at 2045 Morse Road, Bldg. F-1, Columbus, OH 43229. |