Preserving Resources

Preserving resources includes air quality, water quality, energy and recycling efforts.  The US and Ohio EPA regulate air quality standards that are tied to transportation funds. Water quality is also regulated by EPA and Natural Resource offices. Pollutants can come from point sources, such as from a factory or a wastewater treatment plant, a non-point source, such as agricultural run-off, or from mobile sources, such as vehicular emissions.  Various organizations are involved in these areas.

Partners in Preserving Resources

• Audubon Societies:
  Audubon's mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity.
• Columbus Audubon SocietyColumbus Audubon is one of the largest Audubon chapters in the nation. Columbus Audubon organizes field trips throughout the year, holds regular nature programs, and offers classroom-field experiences, such as thepopular Birding 101 series. Eco-Weekend is held the first weekend of May every year and features a huge variety of opportunities for nature study and enjoyment led by volunteer specialists.
• East Central Ohio Audubon Society
• County Park Districts:
• Columbus Metro Parks
  The mission of the Columbus Metro Parks is to conserve open spaces, while providing places and opportunities for people to discover and experience nature. Some parks are categorized as nature preserves. The Metro Parks features many programs for a wide range of interests and age groups. The Columbus Metro system has parks in many of the central Ohio counties.
• Fairfield County Parks
  The purpose of the Historical Parks Commission is to procure unique natural resources, historical settings and open space for education, preservation, conservation management, and passive leisure activities for the people of Fairfield County
• Knox County Park District Knox County Park District
  The purpose of Knox County Park District is to acquire, conserve and manage Knox County natural resources in a manner that preserves the rural character of the county, while protecting the county's unique historical and natural resources. Knox County Park District's parks, water trails, and area bike trails provide the public with an abundance of nature activities such as hiking, fishing, canoeing, biking, and picnicking, as well as meaningful educational experiences.
• Licking Park District 
  Licking Park District has made a concerted effort to acquire and preserve representatives of Licking County's cultural and natural heritage. The District currently manages approximately 1,500 acres of green space in Licking County and offer many passive recreational opportunities for area residents.
  Now you can click on the "Daily Bird Sightings" link to instantly see what birds are seen by staff, volunteers and visitors in and around Licking Park District facilities on a daily basis.
• Marion County Parks District   
  Marion County Parks District consists of several parks, bike paths and trails. Efforts continue to acquire new land and construct and improve amenities, including a 12-mile abandoned rail corridor and associated bike/hike trail.
• Preservation Parks of Delaware County
  Preservation Parks’ goals are to preserve green space in rapidly developing Delaware County and to provide environmental education to its residents. A project of Preservation Parks and Senior Citizens Inc., the Golden Marathon is a series of hikes – each about two miles – that add up to a 26.2-mile marathon at the end of three months. Walks take place nearly every Monday and are held in Preservation Parks preserves and other nature sites in Delaware County.
• Ross County Park District 
  The varied terrain, extensive forest areas and rivers and streams coupled with the activities of past Indian cultures and numerous historical events contribute to the open space, recreational and cultural qualities of the area.

• Car Free Day Columbus  
  A non-profit organization sponsored by a number of regional partners including COTA, the city of Columbus,  MORPC, OSU and others. This is part of a national movement and has promoted events since 2004.
• Central Ohio Clean Fuels Coalition
  The Central Ohio Clean Fuels Coalition (COCFC) is a non-profit organization based at The Ohio State University Center for Automotive Research. Its mission is to improve air quality, protect health, safeguard our global environment, increase national energy security, and strengthen Ohio’s economy by advancing cleaner, American fuels and energy efficient vehicles.
• Central Ohio Sustainability Alliance 
  Originally part of the Keep America Beautiful campaign, this organization has evolved into an independent organization with significant participation by the business and academic community on its Board of Directors and Roundtable Steering Committee Membership. The mission is to support alliances for sustainability among and between organizations, communities and individuals throughout Central Ohio.
• Innovative Farmers of Ohio 
  Innovative Farmers of Ohio, or "IFO", is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1993. It is a member based organization whose mission is to advance sustainable agriculture in the State of Ohio. They have a newsletter, events and corporate and public sponsorships. Their Wisdom in the Land Program is a farming mentoring project administered through OSU.
• Local Matters – Local Ohio Foods
  Local Matters strives to increase market opportunities for local agricultural producers, improve distribution channels for locally grown food and increase consumer access to sustainably grown, local food by educating the public about the environmental, social and economic impact that food has on the community of Columbus, Ohio and surrounding areas.
• Logan Union Champaign Planning Commission
  LUC has been involved in zoning issues associated with wind turbines.
• The Mainstream Green CoalitionThe Mainstream Green Coalition is a collaboration of stakeholders in the future of Ohio’s environment. Mainstream Green educates and advocates for practical, efficient and environmentally sound solutions to energy, land use and other problems, working to implement these solutions through coordinated public policy and private action.
• MORPC Center for Energy and Environment
  This arm of MORPC provides a number of services with regards to energy conservation as well as preserving natural resources. They provide weatherization and home improvement services to low and moderate income households, are responsible for announcing air alert days, provide educational opportunities to citizens, non-profit and for-profit organizations about sustainability issues, coordinate with organizations and a host of other related activities.
• MORPC RideSolutions 
  The MORPC rideshare program is charged with reducing vehicle pollutant emissions and reducing traffic. The program assists in carpool formation by working with major employers and administering a public match register, and formulates vanpools.
• The Nature Conservancy in Ohio
  Together with members and conservation partners, The Nature Conservancy has protected nearly 40,000 acres of critical natural lands in Ohio. Using a strategic, science-based planning process, the Conservancy works to protect large landscapes made up of plants, animals, and natural communities that, if conserved, promise to ensure the diversity of life on Earth now and for future generations.The Conservancy offers many events and volunteer opportunities open to everyone year round.
• Ohio Department of Natural Resources
  A benefit of central Ohio is close proximity to state agencies’ offices. ODNR administers a number of programs including the Agriculture Pollution Abatement Program that provides farmers with cost share assistance to develop and implement best management to protect waterways
• Ohio Environmental Council
  The Ohio Environmental Council is Ohio's leading advocate for fresh air, clean water, and sustainable land use. Using legislative initiatives, legal action, scientific principles, and statewide partnerships, the Council secures a healthier environment for Ohio's families and communities. The OEC is throwing its support behind FutureGen, a unique government-industry proposal to build the world’s first near-zero pollution power plant. Ohio is one of several states vying for the project.
• Ohio Watershed Network
  Part of the OSU Extension office, the Ohio Watershed Network provides information to community members and natural resources professionals who want to protect the resources in their watershed. This site includes county links to the watershed groups in Ohio.
• Ohio Cooperative Development Center 
  This organization helps local growers market their produce. The Farm Fresh Growers Marketing Association (FFG) helps local farmers market their crops. Roots of Appalachia Growers Association (RAGA) is a support network for growers of medicinal herbs and a provider of education about protecting such herbs and the land. The Madison County Growers Association (MCPA) helps Madison County farmers market their crops throughout Ohio and establish Madison County as the center of Ohio agricultural activities.
• Ohio Chapter of the Sierra ClubThis is a well established grass roots organization that engages its members and the community at large through advocacy and events.
• Simply Living 
  Simply Living is a premier resource for connecting with organizations working on issues of sustainability. The member-based organization maintains a website with inks to over 210 organizations and web sites on peace, the environment, sustainability and more as well as a calendar of events and newsletter. Many of the suggested partners listed in this section were obtained from the Simply Living website.
• Sustainable Worthington
  This is a grass roots organization that has been successful in organizing a non-profit organization focused on local development issues including developing a website and incorporation. They have been in existence since 2006 and were inspired by attending a Simply Living conference. Their website includes links to other local “sustainable community” grass roots organizations including Grandview Heights, Clintonville, Westerville and the University Area of Columbus. 
• Solid Waste Authorities 
  Many of the Solid Waste Authorities cover multiple counties that include areas outside the central Ohio region. MORPC is collecting information about the recycling policies of central Ohio communities. SWACO of Franklin County offers a variety of programs directed toward reducing waste.