The Buckeye Forest Council (BFC) is a membership-based, grassroots organization dedicated to protecting Ohio’s native forests and their inhabitants. The BFC uses education, advocacy and organizing to address the need for forest preservation and low-impact recreation over logging and resource extraction.  We seek to instill in Ohioans a sense of personal connection to and responsibility for Ohio's native forests and to challenge the exploitation of land, wildlife and people.

Organizational Background

Founded in 1992 by the Student Environmental Action Coalition at Ohio State University, the BFC was incorporated in 1993. The Buckeye Forest Council’s work emphasizes long-term forest preservation and low-impact recreation over logging, oil and gas drilling and other harmful activities. 

The BFC focuses forest protection efforts on Ohio’s 20 state forests and the Wayne National Forest.  We also remain committed to monitoring new developments and alerting the public and the press about coal mining operations surrounding and beneath Dysart Woods, one of Ohio's last remnants of old-growth forest.  

• Halting virtually all timber sales in Ohio’s only national forest, the Wayne National Forest. (throughout BFC’s existence)
  

• Coordinating a national effort that led to the prohibition of coal stripmining on all federal forestland, including Ohio’s Wayne National Forest. (late 1990’s)
  

• Working with local residents in northeast Ohio to successfully achieve a ban on commercial logging on the Mohican State Forest. (1998-1999)
  

• Preventing longwall mining, the most damaging method of mining, under Dysart Woods, one of Ohio’s last ancient forests and a National Natural Landmark. (late 1990’s)
  

• Exposing stream pollution by Ohio Valley Coal Company (OVCC). OVCC was fined $100,000 and required to give 120 acres to the state for conservation purposes. (1999-2000)
  

• Preventing a 4600-acre oil and gas development project in the Wayne National Forest. (July 2001)

• Halting the King Hollow Timber Sale in Zaleski State Forest by blockading a logging road. This non-violent action generated comprehensive news coverage on state and national levels. This action prompted Senator Hagan to work with BFC in drafting legislation to place a moratorium on logging in Ohio’s state forests. (September 2001)

• Defeating a legislative attempt by the Ohio Forestry Association to increase logging on Ohio’s state forests by 150%. (May 2003)

• Working in collaboration with other statewide groups, the BFC helped defeat Senate Bill 193, a bill that would open up all public lands in Ohio, including state parks and nature preserves, to logging and oil and gas drilling. (Fall 2005- Spring 2006)

• Successful in promoting our candidate for a Governor-appointed position on the Ohio Forestry Council. The Ohio Forestry Council advises the Ohio Division of Forestry Chief on forest management and policy issues. (Winter/Spring 2007)

• Shaped a legislative proposal that would require public input before clear-cutting occurs on ODNR controlled land and before the ODNR grants new easements and leases. (Winter 2006-Present)

The Buckeye Forest Council has a diverse membership that includes individuals, groups, and businesses throughout the state. Although the majority of forests are in the rolling hills of southeastern Ohio, our work serves a membership throughout the state and in surrounding areas.

Read about all of our Board Members here.