Oak Openings Region of Metroparks Toledo, Ohio with LaRae Sprow

On this week's show, we'll see how Metroparks Toledo in Ohio is preserving their "Oak Openings Region" or savannas through prescribed burning with Natural Resources Supervisor--LaRae Sprow.

Oak openings or savannas were once more common in the Midwest. But due to fire suppression, agriculture, and development over the last two centuries, they have become rare. Metroparks Toledo is looking to restore this critically important habitat. Today, forests have become extremely dense without fire, making restoring this habitat challenging.

Officially the Metropolitan Park District of the Toledo Area. It is a public park district consisting of parks, nature preserves, a botanical garden, a trail network, and a historic battlefield in Lucas County, Ohio. Metroparks Toledo “promotes conservation & restoration, encourages active lifestyles & nurtures lifelong learning & an appreciation for natural resources.”