Land Protection and Stewardship
Northwest Ohio is our home. Its fields, woods, wetlands, and waterways shape who we are and we shape it in return. Protecting it is not about stopping growth. It is about guiding it wisely and balancing it with conservation.
The places that make northwest Ohio unique are changing quickly. Across the state, more than 40,000 acres of rural land are lost to development each year. That is five acres every hour. In Ohio, we have lost 95 percent of our wetlands. Once they are gone, they are not easily restored.
Now more than ever, long-term protection of vital natural and agricultural lands in Northwest Ohio depends on the choices made by private and public landowners. Black Swamp Conservancy works alongside those landowners to take direct, voluntary, non-political action that keeps growth in balance with the protection of our region’s natural resources.
For Landowners
If you’re considering a conservation easement, you’re already thinking about the future of your land. Land conservation strengthens our communities in real, measurable ways:
- Farmland preservation supports the sustainability of Ohio’s $100 billion agriculture and food industry.
- Natural habitat conservation fuels a growing ecotourism economy, including birdwatching, hunting, and fishing.
- Wetlands and undeveloped lands act as natural water filters, helping protect drinking water for thousands of local families.
See how Black Swamp Conservancy partners with landowners to preserve working farms and natural areas by limiting development and protecting what matters most. Discover how conservation agreements.