Ohio State Partnership Expands Efforts to Protect Wildlife

By Andi Anderson

Ohio State University and the Ohio Division of Wildlife are strengthening wildlife conservation through the Ohio Biodiversity Conservation Partnership (OBCP).

Founded in 2010, this collaboration brings together academic researchers, students, and government professionals to preserve Ohio’s diverse species while training future scientists.

The OBCP, directed by H. Lisle Gibbs, receives about $3 million annually through the State Wildlife Grant Program, with roughly one-third supporting its research.

The program focuses on studying insects and vertebrates, from pollinators like bees to species such as rattlesnakes and hellbenders. Gibbs emphasized that this partnership is built on trust and shared commitment, saying, “Both organizations take the long view that we’re in this for a long time, and the work is important.”

One of the OBCP’s major projects, the Ohio Bee Survey, is now in its fifth year. Researchers, including Ohio State professor Karen Goodell, have documented more than 330 bee species, nearly 50 of which are “specialist” bees that depend on specific plants for pollen. Goodell noted that this research has provided valuable data about rare species and their habitats.

Students are also gaining real-world experience through hands-on projects, such as identifying insects collected during bee surveys. This effort even led to the most comprehensive hoverfly survey in Ohio since the early 1900s, providing important updates for state records.

Community participation plays a key role as well. Many volunteers, including retirees, assist in collecting specimens for research. Gibbs said public involvement helps expand the scope of data collection far beyond what a small research team could accomplish alone.

Through research, education, and community engagement, the partnership between Ohio State and the Ohio Division of Wildlife continues to advance the state’s conservation goals while inspiring the next generation of environmental scientists.

Photo Credit: ohio-state-university