22 Years of Conservation in Central & Southern Ohio
Our Conservation Achievement
Latest News
Our 2024 Year in Review has just been published and mailed. Check out the complete document at this link. 
Upcoming Events
Spring Wildflower and Orchid Walk at AOA’s Mercer Woods Old Growth Forest Preserve
Walk through mature hardwood and hemlock forests and explore the wildflower covered slopes, immersing ourselves in the magnificence of the beautiful old growth forest habitat. Orchid expert Ken Mettler […]
AOA News and Conservation Victories
Core Portions of Bison Hollow Preserve listed as an Ohio State Nature Preserve. The ODNR Division of Natural Areas and Preserves held a signing ceremony with Director Mertz and AOA representatives present for the recently announced designation of Bison Hollow Preserve as a State Nature Preserve.
Bision Hollow is one of the jewels of the distinctive Hocking Hills landscapes. It is covered in deep, older growth hardwood forests with large stands of hemlock that provide habitat for many native species that are classified as rare, threatened or endangered.
The overall Bison Hollow Preserve now consists of 1,100 acres which includes high sandstone bluffs, gorges, rock shelters and caves, waterfalls and relatively rare high quality coldwater habitat streams in both Hocking and Vinton County of southeast Ohio.
Conservation Victories
March 19, 2025, AOA’s Poston Preserve. Approximately 60-75 volunteers planted 1,200 native deciduous trees of 12 species as part of the land restoration plan for Poston Preserve in Morrow County. This tree planting event drew FirstEnergy staff and Green Team volunteers, DNO Produce employees and managers, AOA staff and board members, Central Ohio Chapter of the Isaac Walton League members, Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalists, friends, relatives, and neighbors. AOA staff trained volunteers to plant trees and install protective tubes around each tree.
We really appreciate the FirstEnergy team who provided the trees, tree tubes, and staff for this event. We also thank all the volunteers who spent a lovely day in March planting trees.
