Rewilding Ohio

The Edith Chase Lecture
Our speaker this year was Mary Mertz, Director Ohio Department of Natural Resources, presented “Invasive Species in Ohio: A Threat to Biodiversity” at the KSU College of Architecture & Environmental Design – 132 S. Lincoln St. Kent, OH.

Poetry
On Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. Poets from around the State read original poems, "Songs for Wild Ohio," at the KSU College of Architecture & Environmental Design.  An anthology of the poems was available at that reading. Request info on how to get a book.

Rewilding Ohio –

Invasive Species in Ohio:
A Threat to Biodiversity

Our Speaker – Mary Mertz
This year’s keynote speaker was Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Director Mary Mertz, who discused the critical importance of controlling invasive plant and animal species for the future of Ohio’s natural areas.

Mary Mertz is the Director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), serving since 2019 after being appointed by Governor Mike DeWine. In this role, Mertz is responsible for leading one of the state's largest and and most diverse agencies which manages more than 800,000 acres of public land in the state's parks, preserves, and forests, conserves fish and wildlife species, regulates the oil, gas and mining industries, and manages water and coastal resources.

Mertz's previous positions include First Assistant Attorney General under Mike DeWine, advisor to Ohio Governor George Voinovich, and legislative director for Congressman Bob McEwen.

A native of Riverside, Mertz holds degrees from American University and George Washington University and earned her J.D. at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. In her free time, she enjoys sailing, hiking, and exploring Ohio's great outdoors.