You can find some of our state’s most dramatic features at the convergence of southeastern Tennessee, northern Alabama, and northern Georgia. Fiery Gizzard, Savage Gulf, Lookout Mountain, Denny Cove, and the Sequatchie Valley are all enjoyed by tens of thousands of visitors each year, and with these visitors comes increased tourism revenue for the small communities scattered throughout the ridges and valleys. But, like many places in Tennessee, and in large part the result of its scenic beauty, this area’s population is booming—putting its natural assets at risk.
To address these concerns, the Thrive Regional Partnership (a nonprofit organization that unites people across a 16-county area) has put together a collaborative group of organizations to conserve these communities and their natural character. TennGreen Land Conservancy is a proud participant in this group.
The goal of the collaboration is to double the amount of conserved land within this region by 2055. In Tennessee, The “Cradle of Southern Appalachia” consists of Marion, Sequatchie, Bledsoe, Rhea, Meigs, McMinn, Hamilton, Bradley, and Polk Counties.
The Partnership has identified four collaborative conservation benchmarks to be achieved by 2055:
- Conservation of at least 50% of unprotected forests in the region: expand open space for the health of our human and natural communities.
- Improve water quality of at least 50% of polluted streams in the region: enhance community and economic vitality through drinkable, recreational, and species-rich waters.
- Keep common species common by protecting 90% of those at risk: ensure well-balanced ecosystems that contribute to water and air quality for generations to come.
- Foster conservation awareness and education: engage people of all ages and backgrounds in community science programs, such as volunteerism, educational opportunities, and technology.
Now, thanks to a generous two-year grant from the Lyndhurst Foundation, TennGreen can expand its strategic land conservation focus into this remarkable area. The $100,000 grant will be used to identify and secure land conservation opportunities within this region that align with TennGreen’s Strategic Land Conservation Plan focal areas, including:
- The Sequatchie River, especially headwater lands in Marion, Grundy, and Sequatchie Counties
- Headwaters of the Elk River in Franklin County
- Approximately 15 Areas of Importance for climate resiliency and connectivity
- Biodiverse lands near Chattanooga under immediate threat of urbanization
- Areas in Sequatchie, Bledsoe, McMinn, and Polk Counties identified as having limited access to nearby state parks and natural areas
These places feature unique flora and fauna, provide habitat connectivity for species moving through the state, and contain rich recreational opportunities for the public.
Other partners include, but are not limited to, the Tennessee River Gorge Trust, the Trust for Public Land, the Nature Conservancy (Tennessee and Georgia chapters), the Land Trust for Tennessee, the Mountain Goat Trail, the Cumberland Trails Conference, Tennessee Wildlife Federation, green|spaces, The Conservation Fund, and many more local land conservancies, municipal governments, private foundations, and planning agencies.
TennGreen’s recent partnership project with George Lindemann, which includes the conservation of nearly 2,000 acres at the Soak Creek Farm, is located in this region.
“Our Southern Appalachia landscape is complex, rich, and storied. Those of us here today only occupy a single chapter of its history, but each of us—residents, business leaders, government, and conservation groups—have a role in its future. By building partnerships ‘beyond the choir’ of conservation, around collective priorities at a landscape scale, we can inclusively protect natural and cultural communities for generations to come.” —Bridgett Massengill, President & CEO of Thrive Regional Partnership
“TennGreen Land Conservancy is one of five regional land conservation organizations that have been selected by the Lyndhurst Foundation to receive operational support over the next two years to implement the Cradle of Southern Appalachia conservation plan. We realize that a plan is meaningless without empowering experienced and capable practitioners who can put boots on the ground to identify and conserve our region’s premier natural areas. The foundation’s grants for operational support complement additional funding we have committed to enhance our region’s scientific understanding of the role native forests and grasslands play in sequestering carbon, protecting wildlife, and improving air and water quality.” —Benic M. “Bruz” Clark III, President & Treasurer of Lyndhurst Foundation
Do you own land that you want to protect within the Cradle of Southern Appalachia? Contact our experts at land@tenngreen.org or (615) 329-4441 today to talk about your conservation options!
Top photo: View of Hiwassee Gap in Polk County – Photo by Chuck Sutherland