RAVENNA, Ohio (WKBN) – Christmas has long since been in the rearview mirror, but those recycled Christmas trees are making a difference in the environment.
February isn’t typically boating weather, but the sunny skies gave the Ohio Division of Wildlife prime conditions to repurpose Christmas trees leftover from the holiday season.
“We started off with about two trailer loads, maybe 100 trees out at the Austintown Park,” said Dan Wright, Ohio Division of Wildlife fisheries management technician. “Last year, we did our 25,000th Christmas tree.”
Since 2007, in partnership with Mahoning County’s Green team, the Division of Wildlife has used Christmas trees to replenish habitats across the state.
“This is the biggest habitat project that takes place in the state of Ohio,” Wright said.
Wildlife officials typically pick two sites each year. This year, one of them was Kirwan Reservoir at West Branch State Park.
“All of these sites are selected so they are not only for the fish habitat but also easy for anglers to access,” Wright said.