When we talk about protecting Ohio’s native forests, it can be hard to visualize what is actually at stake. In environmental advocacy, there is often a barrier between dense scientific data and the general public. The public is often left out of the conversation because the information is in complex spreadsheets, outdated management plans, and confusing boundary lines.
That is why, as part of a final project while earning my GIS certificate, I built a tool designed to break that barrier. This interactive iNaturalist Project Map takes large amounts of geographic data and puts it into a visual format that anyone can look at and understand in less than five minutes.
This map brings the reality of Ohio’s “public lands,” like the Wayne National Forest, directly onto your screen. It shows you the actual footprint of what we stand to lose. Right now, our local forests are facing a critical threat. The Bureau of Land Management is moving forward with plans to lease thousands of acres of the Wayne National Forest for commercial oil and gas development.
When a piece of a forest is leased for industrial development, it isn’t just a line on a contract. It means heavy machinery, clear-cutting, and fragmented habitats for local wildlife. By putting this data on a map, it becomes undeniably clear: these aren’t just isolated trees. They are massive, interconnected ecosystems that clean our air, filter our drinking water, and protect our state’s biodiversity.
Understanding the Map
I built this map specifically to be user-friendly. You don’t need any background in mapping software or technical GIS data to navigate it. Here is how simple it is to use:
- Just Click Around: When you open the map, simply click on any colored section of land. The legend will tell you exactly what that species is, and its environmental context.
- Look at the Different Species: You can zoom around to different hiking spots and see what plants and animals are most commonly spotted near the trails, using real citizen-science data from the Keep Wayne Wild’s iNaturalist project.
- Check the Looming Threats: Most importantly, you can use the map to see exactly if any of your favorite hiking spots or local forests are at risk of being leased in the upcoming September 2026 leasing sale.
Why BEN’s Work Needs Your Support
Public pressure only works when communities have the facts. For over thirty years, Buckeye Environmental Network has been doing the essential work required to keep Ohio’s native forests protected. From fighting to stop destructive logging in the Wayne, to protecting rare old-growth forests like Dysart Woods, BEN watchdogs state and federal agencies to ensure our public lands remain public.
As a grassroots non-profit, BEN can’t do this work alone. It takes funding to build accessible data tools, organize community opposition, and research legal and public campaigns necessary to stop these lease sales.
Our native forests need us to stand up for them before the September 2026 leasing. Please take a look at the map, share it with your friends, and consider making a monthly donation to BEN so we can keep fighting to protect Ohio’s only national forest.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
- Submit a public comment before June 17, 2026.
- Ask the BLM to fully evaluate impacts to forests, waterways, wildlife, and climate.
- Tell the BLM the public has repeatedly opposed fracking in Wayne National Forest.
- Share why protecting public land matters to you personally.
Public comments are now open on the agency’s latest environmental review document, the draft Determination of NEPA Adequacy (DNA). The review period closes on June 17, 2026, and we need your help to submit as many comments as possible.
To help you prepare, BEN is hosting a webinar with Fair Shake on Tuesday, June 16th at noon. We will cover NEPA 101, discuss how to structure your comments, and answer any questions you have.
If you can’t make the webinar, don’t worry! Our WNF comment guide is listed below to walk you through the process step-by-step. No matter your background, your voice matters, we want to make sure it’s heard.
👉 Explore the Interactive iNaturalist Data Map Here
👉 Comment Guide WNF-OnePager
👉 Webinar Invite https://secure.everyaction.com/kixkchraUU-Uvu3nX3qN6g2