PERRYSBURG, Ohio — Black Swamp Conservancy added 11 protected properties to its conservation holdings in 2012. The conservancy now protects 12,875 acres of farmland and natural areas for the benefit of the families and communities of northwest Ohio.
The conservancy works to protect family farms, woods and other open spaces using perpetual land conservation agreements known as conservation easements. These agreements with landowners restrict the permitted uses of the land in order to protect the property’s natural resource value.
The conservancy does not take ownership of the land, but works with the landowner to ensure the terms of the agreement are followed.
The newly-protected properties include a 172-acre farm near Gibsonburg in Sandusky County, a 40-acre addition to the conservancy’s nature preserve in Paulding County, a 70-acre Ottawa County marsh, and an 80-acre farm and woods on the Sandusky River in Seneca County.
Black Swamp Conservancy covers a 16-county service area in northwest Ohio, and is the only regional organization dedicated to protecting farmland and natural areas through land conservation agreements.
Founded in 1993, the conservancy will celebrate its 20-year anniversary at its annual Blue Grass & Green Acres benefit event March 15 on the campus of Bowling Green State University. Contact the conservancy for information about tickets.