EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was originally published on the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website.
LOUDONVILLE – Loudonville is among a group of Ohio’s rural school districts that will receive state funds through the Trees to Textbooks program.
The Loudonville-Perrysville Consolidated School District will receive 101,003.97. In addition, Hanover Township will receive $50,501.98, while Ashland County will get $50,501.98, both through the same program.
In total, 16 rural Ohio school district, their corresponding counties, and townships will share $1,578,538 from the harvest of timber from Ohio’s state forests through the Trees to Textbooks program, which operates as part of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry.
“ODNR’s sustainable management of natural resources makes programs like this possible,” Gov. Mike DeWine said. “We believe in the power of education, which is why we find it important to give back to local schools.”
Through the ODNR Division of Forestry’s Trees to Textbooks program, a percentage of the revenue generated from state forest management activity goes to the county, township, and school district in which the activity took place.
“The Trees to Textbooks program has done a lot to benefit our communities economically,” Chief of the ODNR Division of Forestry Dan Balser said. “We are pleased to be able share the funds with our local communities to strengthen the quality of education and help local economies flourish.”
The Ohio Division of Forestry began distributing timber revenues to counties and townships in the early 1980s. Since the Trees to Textbooks program started in 1999, more than $37 million has been shared with Ohio school districts and local governments.
The Ohio Division of Forestry is responsible for the care of more than 200,000 acres of state forests. State forestry experts manage these woodlands for overall health and diversity, soil and water conservation, improved wildlife habitat and a variety of recreational opportunities.
Selected trees or areas of woodland are harvested through a competitive bid process, which includes requirements for sound management practices. All work is conducted by certified master loggers under strict monitoring.
The Ohio Division of Forestry promotes the wise use and sustainable management of Ohio’s public and private woodlands. To learn more about Ohio’s woodlands, visit Forestry.ohiodnr.gov. Follow us on Facebook @odnrforestry and on Instagram @odnrforestry.
ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.
