The entity undertaking this project is natural areas land conservancy (the land conservancy), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting organization of western reserve land conservancy, located in northeast…

The entity undertaking this project is natural areas land conservancy (the land conservancy), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting organization of western reserve land conservancy, located in northeast ohio. The land conservancy is requesting great lakes restoration initiative-joint venture habitat restoration and protection dollars for the acquisition and protection of the huntington woods preserve property (the property) in huntington township, lorain county, ohio. Upon acquisition, a conservation easement will be held and perpetually stewarded and defended by western reserve land conservancy to protect the entire 34.4-acre property in perpetuity to ensure natural resources remain intact. The property will be owned and managed by the land conservancy. The 34.4-acre huntington woods preserve property is located in huntington township, lorain county, ohio approximately 21.4 miles from lake erie. The entire property is within the boundaries of the upper mississippi river and great lakes joint venture (JV) region and is associated within bird conservation region 13 (BCR 13). Natural areas land conservancy is working to protect 34.4 acres of high-quality habitat in a coastal county that will have significant benefit for migratory birds. The property consists of high-quality habitat, including 32 acres of pristine forest, which contains 7.74 acres of category 3 wetlands, and 1.5 acres of agricultural field that will be returned to native prairie habitat. This tract of mesic forest has trees approaching old growth conditions, some of which exceed a diameter-breast height of 33 inches. The forest is mostly dominated by black OAK, red maple, swamp white OAK, and various hickory species, including shagbark, shellbark, and sweet pignut. Approximately 155 species of forbs and trees have been documented on the property, and of the species identified, 97% are native species. The natural resource surveys completed indicate habitat integrity, which reveals a mature and stable ecology near to old-growth conditions. The property is adjacent to the lorain county metroparks 541-acre wellington reservation, approximately 0.4 miles from the 203-acre ohio division of wildlife wellington wildlife area, and approximately 0.75 miles from the 838-acre findley state park. In addition, the private property to the east is protected with a conservation easement. Protection of the high-quality habitat will contribute to a significant conservation corridor, and if the project is successful, there will be nearly 1,760 acres of preserved land in the region. Loss of habitat and habitat fragmentation threaten the preservation of priority species, and protection of habitat such as that found onsite with connectivity to other protected areas will benefit many priority bird species as evidenced by those documented on and close to the property.