The Center for Conservation was created as a response to the growing need for collaborative conservation across the Midwest region. Our vision is to engage in conservation-focused activities that have direct positive impacts on the natural areas and human lives in the Tri-State region. The Center is invested in the preservation and restoration of native habitats in and around the Cincinnati-TriState region. Our approach is holistic, and our view of the natural areas across SW Ohio is one of integrated landscapes; that is, people and wildlife living together. Thus, in addition to land management practices, we place equal stewardship value on educational programming, recreation, public engagement in conservation & sustainability, and cultural & formal events.

To ensure that we align our efforts with these philosophies, the Center houses both the Department of Stewardship as well as the Department of Education. As the education and stewardship arm of a nature center and 1650 acre wildlife preserve, our approach to conservation includes nature-centric public educational programming and data-centric land stewardship that includes post-management monitoring. In practice, this often includes a blending of education and stewardship into practical workshops and volunteer land steward & monitoring programs.

Areas of Focus: 

• STEWARDSHIP: To maintain and enhance the Nature Center's lands as a “living laboratory” of biologically diverse native habitats

  • Native habitat enhancement and restoration
  • Invasive species management
  • Sustainable Trail maintenance
    
    
• EDUCATION: To educate the community about the benefits and methods of conservation
  
  • Through programs, workshops, seminars
  • Variety of subjects – variety of formats
  • Focus programming on conservation initiatives (e.g. Milkweed to Monarchs)
  • Use the Nature Center's lands to demonstrate techniques
  • Provide student research experiences/opportunities
  • Through volunteer opportunities
    
    

• COLLABORATION: To lead initiatives which improve land and water quality in the region and beyond

  • Support conservation practitioners through collaboration to address ecological challenges in this region
  
  
• LAND PROTECTION: To protect greenspace in the region   
  • Acquiring adjacent lands to enhance and protect Cincinnati Nature Center's ecosystem
  • Increase greenspace protected through partnership with Cardinal Land Conservancy
    
    
• RESEARCH: To carry out scientific research which informs our practices
  • Utilize research findings to guide land management decisions/practices
  • To contribute to body of local natural history ecology
  • To inform land management decisions on the Nature Center's lands
  • To support conservation initiatives
  • To provide educational opportunities for students
  • To engage people through Citizen Science programs

A Home for the Center for Conservation

In 2017, the Nature Center renovated the historic Groesbeck Lodge, a 1920s English revival country house at Rowe Woods,  that now provides offices for the Center for Conservation staff and volunteers, as well as space for research labs and group meetings.