The Ohio River Islands National Fish and Wildlife Refuge protects 22 islands and over 3,440  acres across the Mid and Upper Ohio River valley.  The Refuge Vision states that, “Through reforestation, exotic species control, and wetland restoration, the Refuge will serve as an anchor for biodiversity and a model for habitat restoration throughout the Ohio River Valley ecosystem.”  Humans get to benefit from this endeavor by the creation of natural areas for wildlife-dependent recreation, including environmental education, wildlife viewing, and hunting and fishing.  

Ecological restoration is the process of returning the land to health using scientific knowledge and recognized techniques to create an ecosystem that supports a diversity of native plants and animals. 

Restoration does not attempt to return natural areas to some idealized state of the past. The goal is to correct or mitigate harmful human impacts and create diverse, resilient natural areas that will thrive now and in the future. These restored landscapes are important to us not just for their beauty or biodiversity, but because healthy natural areas provide essential ecosystem services, such as clean air and water, flood mitigation and recreation opportunities.

Typically, restoration efforts begin by removing invasive plants and unnaturally dense overgrowth. Woody invasives such as multi-flora rose, autumn olive and oriental honeysuckle (to name just a few!), choke thousands of acres of islands and forests along the Ohio River valley. Clearing this brush lets light return to the forest floor, allowing herbaceous vegetation like grasses, sedges and wildflowers to return.

When these growing conditions return, some native plants simply appear from “stored” seeds in the soil that finally have an opportunity to germinate and grow. Other times, people may collect and distribute seeds to augment the diversity of native herbaceous vegetation.

Brush clearing and seed collection and distribution are two of the most important ways volunteers can use to return our natural areas to health. This is a great way to learn about native and invasive plants—how to grow the native plants and remove the invasive ones!  We will conduct restoration workdays throughout the year to heal the landscape.  It is a great way to get outdoors and enjoy nature!

Over the next year, the stewardship volunteers with the Friends of the Ohio River Islands will work with the professional staff at the refuge to develop plans to restore the natural areas on the islands to ecological health.  We will start in areas visible to the public and which are relatively easy to access.  (Most of the islands are accessible by boat only!)

Come join the Friends of the Ohio River Islands and the refuge staff to restore these unique and important islands in our beautiful Ohio River.