A new Ohio nature preserve in Athens and Morgan counties protects 3,000 acres of Appalachian foothillsATHENS COUNTY, Ohio (The Ohio Newsroom) — Betty Lowe’s family has owned nearly 3,000 acres of forested land in the foothills of Appalachian Ohio for the last century. The importance of the new nature preserveSoutheast Ohio already boasts some of the state’s most beloved nature, from Hocking Hills to the Wayne National Forest. And that’s where nature preserves like this come in.”Blair says nature preserves like Joy Valley help provide habitat for a wide range of animals. “Species like bobcats, salamanders and everything in between need large protected areas like this, whether they’re in the state parks or in the nature preserves,” he said. “Nature preserves like this really help meet the public demand for conserved natural areas.”He doesn’t recommend visiting the Joy Valley Nature Preserve quite yet — cell phone reception there is limited and it’s not well-marked.