Change Is Constant was originally published in the BFEC Newsletter, Vol. 17/No. 2, Spring 2013.
Imagine a time when there were no deer in Ohio. Deer and many other animals disappeared a century ago when nearly all of the state's forests were cut down. It's an example of the profound changes our community and landscape have experienced in just a few centuries. How will we shape the changes that lie ahead?
Mention the word "forest," and what comes to mind may be a patch of woods that you often drive past, or maybe the view from your back porch or a favorite trail.
But to envision Ohio's forests as they were first seen through the eyes of pioneers, you must erase these images, because the forests they encountered were very different.
Forests didn't occur in 50 or 100 or even 500 acre plots. They covered the entire state, from border to border, minus patches of prairie and wetland.
These original forests also contained, as one might suspect, really big trees. Some, like sycamores, grew large enough to encompass a small room, literally. These trees can live to be 400 years old and 50 feet around, and often become hollow at ground level. Pioneers took shelter within them for years at a time or used them to corral livestock. Though less perfect as a tree house, white oak trees lived to be 600 years old — over half a millennium.
In addition to being larger in every dimension, Ohio's forests supported wildlife that would be jaw-dropping to present-day Ohioans, like wolves, elk, mountain lions, bison and rattlesnakes.
But as Ohio became a state in 1803, farms quickly proliferated while natural areas dwindles. In just 100 years, nearly 90 percent of Ohio's original forests were cleared. The wildlife described above, not to mention common present-day animals like beaver, deer and turkey also disappeared.
After the immense loses of the 19th century, Ohio's forests slowly and quietly crept back. They rebounded to cover 30 percent of Ohio by the mid-1990s, and many animal species returned with them.
This is good news for wildlife, but it's also good news for our community. Green space is enjoyed for hunting, staying fit, reducing stress and spending time with family.
Natural areas are also working for you in a way that is seldom recognized, as vital infrastructure. If you like to eat or maintain a dry home during heavy rains, then you've benefited from these "ecosystem services." For instance, natural areas provided habitat for hundreds of bee species, which pollinate crops that account for up to 30 percent of our food supply.
They are also important when it comes to managing water. Most of us are familiar with the impact of Hurricane Katrina, which was exacerbated by the loss of coastal wetlands. Had this natural barrier been left intact, it would have helped buffer the storm and prevented millions of dollars in damages.
Similarly, natural areas next to rivers help mitigate flooding. During a 2010 flood event, 100 acres of the BFEC preserve along the Kokosing River were underwater. Because this land had been set aside, it was able to provide a safe place for water to spread out and slow down. When floodplains are filled or floodwalls erected, floodwater simply continues downstream where it has the potential to cause even greater damage.
The river itself benefits from being allowed the space to flood, which is a part of its natural cycle. Natural areas along rivers also help filter pollutants and protect drinking water.
With knowledge of these tremendous changes to our landscape, we can begin to understand that its fate is far from settled. What will our surroundings look like in 2100? While we must balance the various needs of our population, we also know that conservation of green space makes sense, for the benefit of our health and the infrastructure that supports our own survival.
The BFEC's goal is to help the land return to a healthy, self-sustaining ecosystem through strategies ranging from reforestation to education. This goal helps maintain a future for Ohio's great natural diversity, as well as one offering clean air, clean drinking water and a beautiful place for Knox County residents to call home.
Playing a positive role in shaping the future of our landscape may be easier than you'd think. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Invite bees, butterflies, and birds to your backyard by limiting pesticides and planting native flowers and shrubs. Ask the BFEC for a plant list, or visit our wildlife garden for inspiration.
Bringing children to natural areas benefits their health and helps them grow into adults who care.