Growing out of the Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station (established in 1904), the Division of Forestry was one of the original divisions created with ODNR in 1949. The division provides technical assistance on the management and protection of Ohio's 7.5 million acres of forests (30 percent of the state).

It manages 22 state forests. In addition, the division monitors and assists forest protection concerns such as wildfire, insect and disease control.

Community Technical Assistance
Contact Drew Todd, 614-265-6707
Organizational and technical assistance offered to communities to help develop comprehensive tree care programs. Service delivered by six urban foresters located throughout the state.

Cooperative Lands Fire Management
Contact Mike Bowden, 614-265-1088
Organizational, technical, and direct wildfire assistance for approximately 350 rural volunteer fire departments in Ohio's unglaciated lands (designated fire protection area).

Cooperative Wildfire Suppression Payments to Volunteer Fire Depts
Contact Mike Bowden, 614-265-1088
Financial assistance for wildfires within the designated wildfire protection area.

Fall Color
Contact Division of Forestry, 614/265-6694
Fall color conditions around the state made available to the public through 1-800-BUCKEYE. Partnership program with divisions of Parks and Recreation and Natural Areas and Preserves.

Federal Excess Property
Contact Rick Maier, 740-774-1596 ext. 7
Long-term loan of various equipment used for fire suppression and in support of fire operations for rural fire departments within the division's fire protection area.

Fire Fighter Property (FFP)
Contact Rick Maier 740-774-1596 ext 7
Provides excess military equipment to fire departments statewide at no cost for use in fire and emergency services. Contact info would be the same.

Forest Health Management/Monitoring
Contact Drew Todd, 614-265-6707
Assessment of statewide forest health conditions reported to U.S. Forest Service; assistance provided to public and private forest landowners on major forest health problems.

Forest Legacy Program
Contact Cotton Randall 614-265-6667
Purchase of conservation easements from willing sellers within designated areas. Landowners must apply to have their lands considered. Call for applications typically occurs in October.

Incident Command System Steering Committee
Contact Mike Bowden, 614-265-1088
Partnership with other state agencies to provide emergency management assistance for disaster assistance. State steering committee provides advice on planning and development efforts.

Interagency Fire Crew
Contact Mike Bowden, 614-265-1088
Coordination of all qualified wildland fire fighters in Ohio to suppress wildfires across the nation.

Middle Atlantic Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact
Contact Mike Bowden, 614-265-1088
Participation with seven mid-Atlantic states to assist one another with wildfire protection. Training and organizational assistance provided.

Minerals Leasing
Contact Chad Sanders, 614-265-6344
Authority to lease minerals on state forest lands, normally handled on request basis.

Northwest Ohio Windbreak Program
Contact Gregg Maxfield, 419-429-8310
Cooperative windbreak planting program in 17 northwest Ohio counties for "turn-key" tree planting services to encourage private landowners to develop field wind-breaks. Partnership program with ODNR Division of Soil & Water, Division of Wildlife, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs).

Ohio Interagency Coordinating Group
Contact Mike Bowden, 614-265-1088
Public natural resource agencies and education institutions that coordinate and provide cooperative wildfire assistance for disaster wildfire situations nationwide.

Ohio Rural Fire Council, Inc.
Contact Mike Bow, 614-265-1088
Non-profit organization which promotes rural fire interests within Ohio.

Ohio's Big Trees
Contact Lisa Bowers, 614-728-4210
Identification and cataloguing of the largest specimens of trees in the state. In cooperation with the Ohio Forestry Association.

Project Learning Tree (PLT)
Contact Sue Wintering, 614-265-6657
Environmental Education Teacher Workshops, Grades K-12. Uses the forest as a window into the natural world to help students gain an awareness and knowledge of the world around them, as well as their place in it.

State Forest Recreation
Numerous recreational opportunities for Ohio citizens including hunting, fishing, hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, APV riding, mountain biking, mushroom hunting, berry picking, sightseeing, and birdwatching. Contact Dick Lusk, 614-265-6707.

Service Forestry Landowner Assistance
Contact Division of Forestry, 614-265-6694
Planning and technical forestry assistance to private landowners to help manage forest resources. Assistance provided by 25 service foresters throughout the state.

Timber Management/Sales
Contact Chad Sanders, 614-265-6344
Authority to manage state forest timber and make sales to industry, with approximately 5-6 million board feet sold annually.

Tree City USA
Contact Drew Todd, 614-265-6707
Administration of program recognizing communities making a commitment to the long-term care of urban forest resources. Program in cooperation with National Arbor Day Foundation.

Wildland Fire Training
Contact Mike Bailey, 614-752-7177
Training in wildfire suppression for over 350 rural volunteer fire departments.

FORESTRY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Contact Division of Forestry, 614-265-6694.
Individuals, families, and groups can volunteer in various projects ranging from assisting with hiking and bridle trail maintenance and improvement, litter clean-up projects, tree plantings, and presenting environmental education programs. Opportunities are available at the 20 state forests throughout Ohio and during the Ohio State Fair.

Firewise Ohio
Contact Aaron Kloss 614-265-6896
Program goal is to reduce susceptibility of homes, communities, and structures to wildfire damage through cooperative education and mitigation.

Smokey Bear/Ohio State Fair
Contact Division of Forestry, 614-265-6694
Volunteers act as "voice" of the 14-1/2 foot talking bear during the Ohio State Fair in Columbus; other volunteers greet and interact with children.

State Forests
Contact Division of Forestry, 614-265-6694
Individuals, families, and groups assist with hiking and bridle-trail maintenance and improvement, litter clean-ups, tree plantings, and presenting environmental education programs. Opportunities are available at the 20 state forests throughout Ohio.

Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant Program
Contact Rick Maier 740-774-1596 ext 7
50/50 matching grant program for equipping and establishing fire departments serving populations less than 10,000.