Royal Blue
TennGreen Land Conservancy partnered with The Conservation Fund and The Nature Conservancy to protect 709 acres of critical land and wildlife habitat for an expansion of North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in northeastern Tennessee.
North Cumberland WMA is home to nearly 200,000 acres of continuous public land, making it the largest WMA active in the state. The addition of the new land borders the current WMA on three sides and will be incorporated into the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s management plan for the larger area.
Protection of this land is of critical importance. The North Cumberland WMA reintroduced elk to the land in the early 2000s and now boasts one of the largest free-roaming elk populations East of the Mississippi River. A central elk viewing tower attracts over 15,000 visitors each year and offers access to birdwatching for at-risk species including the cerulean warbler — whose global habitat is dwindling.
The expansion of the area also helps to safeguard water quality along the New River, while increasing access to backcountry camping, hunting and opportunities for the local outdoor recreational economy.
The three conservation groups secured the privately owned land when it came on the market. The property was then transferred to the state of Tennessee in late September 2024 for future protection and management.
This project was funded in part by the Tennessee Heritage Conservation Trust Fund.
There is no public land in Tennessee quite like the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area. By expanding the land protected in this area, we are ensuring that locals and visitors alike can continue to cherish this landscape.