The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry (DOF) recently honored Dave Apsley, natural resources specialist with CFAES’ OSU Extension outreach arm, for his outstanding contributions to forestry. In a “Forest of Honor” ceremony on Oct. 17 in Zaleski State Forest in southeast Ohio, trees were planted to recognize Apsley and two other honorees.
Leadership in forestry education
Apsley’s name is “synonymous with forestry education in Ohio,” an ODNR press release said. “His outstanding leadership and innovation are based on his tireless hard work and ability to network to accomplish well-thought-out goals.”
Sustaining Ohio’s forests
Apsley, among his work, is the primary coordinator and leader of the “A Day in the Woods” educational series, now in its eighth year at Vinton Furnace State Forest and other locations in southeast Ohio. The series has reached more than 3,000 woodland owners and enthusiasts, who, combined, own some 125,000 acres of woodlands.
“ODNR and the Division of Forestry have been very supportive of OSU Extension’s efforts to sustain Ohio’s forests, especially in Appalachian Ohio,” Apsley said. “Partnering with ODNR-DOF has greatly expanded our capacity to positively impact the people and forests of the region.”