By Karin Connelly Rice, FreshWater Cleveland
Throughout Northeast Ohio, thousands of acres of wetlands, forests, and prairies are quietly fighting climate change. These natural landscape features absorb floodwaters that would otherwise damage homes, cool steamy summer temperatures, and provide habitats for endangered species.
Yet most people have no idea this conservation work is happening right in their own backyards.
The disconnect between impact and awareness is exactly what Sustainable Economies Consulting works to bridge. The women-owned firm, which launched in January 2026 in Wooster with offices in Shaker Heights, specializes in helping conservation organizations develop strategic plans and communications strategies to share their stories with the world.
“Park districts are kind of the unsung heroes in the fight against climate change,” explains Marissa Ferrari, who recently joined forces with company founder Elizabeth Schuster. “They’re providing communities with cleaner air and water. They’re helping to prevent flooding and wildfires, and they’re promoting biodiversity that supports local food systems.”
The added bonuses, adds Schuster, are places where community members can experience cooler air temperatures and natural green space.
“But most people don’t know that, or think about that,” Ferrari notes. “They think about going to the park to hike, they think about going to the botanical gardens to look at the flowers and plants.
“But they’re not really thinking about the fact that these are conservation organizations,” continues Ferrari, “they are protecting these natural areas and preserving hundreds of thousands of acres of natural areas across Northern Ohio. They are contributing in this massive way to fighting climate change.”
The full article was published in FreshWater Cleveland on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
Featured photo was provided by the Cleveland Museum of Natural History: Sustainable Economies empowers organizations like Cleveland Museum of Natural History to create positive change in places like Kelsey Pine River Preserve.
