COLUMBUS, OH - Rare plant finds, ferns, lilies, peatlands and botanical wonders of Ohio and the Great Lakes region will be explored during the Fourth Annual Botanical Symposium sponsored by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and The Nature Conservancy. The April 2 event is from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the auditorium of the Ohio Department of Transportation, 1980 W. Broad St., just west of downtown Columbus.
Keynote speaker Dr. Ed Voss from the University of Michigan will discuss 200 years of Great Lakes botanical exploration. Other guest speakers include: Jim Bissell from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Dr. Barbara Andreas from Kent State University, Rick Gardner from The Nature Conservancy and Brian Gara from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
The symposium will introduce botanists and native plant enthusiasts to the Ohio Natural Heritage Database. The database contains more than 13,000 records of Ohio's rare plant and animal species, high-quality plant communities and unique geological features. Deadline for registration is March 19. The cost is $10 per person and includes refreshments. For more information about the Ohio Botanical Symposium, contact Jim McCormac with the ODNR Division of Natural Areas & Preserves at 614-265-6440.