Ohio Natural Areas & Preserves Association

GCO is a Conservation Partner of the Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association.  ONAPA is a 501(C)(3) organization of volunteers who educate the public and perform an amazing amount of stewardship in over 40 State of Ohio recognized Natural Areas and Preserves. Your club or District may make donations of $1.00 (yes, one dollar) or more. Club Conservation Partner memberships are encouraged.  Click on the required ONAPA donation form on the GCO website for additional                                                                      information. All membership and donation dollars stay in Ohio.

ONAPA History:  From 2009-2011, the State of Ohio Division of Natural Areas and Preserves (DNAP) budget was cut, and with no staff came the resulting rapid deterioration of many state nature preserves. Former employees, seeing set-backs in their previous work, felt that a “friends” of DNAP group could continue the strides they had made. Three retired DNAP officials applied for non-profit corporation status and ONAPA was born in 2012.

Fast forward to 2024 to find ONAPA still working closely with the DNAP. Nature Preserves is now a Program within the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves.

With no owned land and no rented office buildings, ONAPA’s business structure mimics GCO’s volunteer based organization with over 80% of money used for stewardship and the remainder for educational outreach with very low operational expenses. Donations help fund two to three contracted Stewardship Assistants yearly.  Your club may participate in an ONAPA stewardship project, attend an educational seminar, or invite an ONAPA speaker to your District or club meeting. By the way, your participation in these events can be used for a GCO/NGC Civic Award application.

Please look at the ONAPA.org website for a map of Ohio’s recognized natural areas and preserves, the upcoming project calendar, photos of their wonderful past and present projects, educational information and an introduction to their current Stewardship Assistants. Project examples are removing invasive garlic mustard, collecting native plant seeds, and maintaining bird and butterfly habitats. They always perform high level work with competent and experienced staff and leadership. You may also find local events where your club can help with a field project or attend an educational program.

Make your checks to “Garden Club of Ohio” and send with the form to the ONAPA Chairman. Directions and additional information is listed on the required form found in the link on our GCO website. Your donations and all types of memberships will be tracked by GCO and published in Garden Greetings. *Checks or online donations/ memberships sent directly to ONAPA will not be credited to your club.

Your GCO officers, along with Ohio’s land, plants and animals thank you for supporting our GCO Conservation Partnership with the Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association.

Joann Predina, ONAPA Chairman