October 28, 2005 

NEARLY $1 MILLION GIVEN TO OHIO SCHOOL DISTRICTS
AND THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH “TREES TO TEXTBOOKS” PROGRAM 

COLUMBUS, OH – Fifteen Ohio school districts and their corresponding counties will receive more than $968,000 this year from the sale of timber at Ohio’s state forests, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry.

Through the division’s “Trees to Textbooks” program, a percentage of the revenues generated from state forest management activities, such as timber sales, are paid to the local county, township, and school district in which the activity took place.

“Schools and local governments benefit at the same time that we create a diverse forest landscape for wildlife, provide university research opportunities, and promote healthier forests,” said State Forester John Dorka. “We are proud of the significant contribution forest management projects have made to their communities within these forests.”

This year, a total of $484,369 to 15 school districts and another $484,369 has been distributed to local governments in 12 Ohio counties.

The Division of Forestry is responsible for managing more than 185,000 acres of state forests across Ohio. Through carefully selected timber management projects, foresters have been able to improve the health, vigor and productivity of state forest lands.

Today, Ohio is more than 30 percent forested, compared to just 12 percent in the early 1900s. In the past 80 years, the ODNR Division of Forestry has planted more than a half billion trees in Ohio, and continues to produce more than 2,000,000 conservation seedlings a year for planting.

All timber management projects on state lands are carefully selected. State forestry experts use these projects to improve the forest’s overall health and diversity, with an eye to its value for recreational opportunities, soil and water conservation and wildlife habitat. When selected trees or areas of woodland are harvested, projects are competitively bid with requirements for sound management practices. All work is conducted by certified master loggers under strict monitoring.

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For additional news online, check out the ODNR Press Room at Ohiodnr.com

For Further Information Contact:

Andy Ware, ODNR Division of Forestry
(614) 265-1089