Conservation Is Tennessee Common Ground
Conservation editorial: Tennessee’s natural heritage is one of the few things that truly belongs to all of us.
From the forests of the Cumberland Plateau to the rivers of West Tennessee, from working family farms to the Great Smoky Mountains, the landscapes that define this state connect Tennesseans across geography, generations, and backgrounds. Long before today’s political debates, these places shaped our communities, supported our livelihoods, and provided opportunities for recreation, reflection, and renewal.
They still do.
Conservation is often discussed as a policy issue, but at its heart it is something much simpler: stewardship. It is the belief that the land, water, and natural resources we enjoy today should remain healthy and productive for those who come after us. Whether someone spends their weekends hunting, fishing, hiking, farming, paddling, birdwatching, or simply enjoying a local park, that principle resonates across Tennessee.
Clean water is not partisan. Healthy forests are not partisan. Protecting farmland, reducing flood impacts, preserving wildlife habitat, and ensuring access to outdoor recreation benefit communities regardless of how they vote.
The land itself offers a useful reminder. Rivers cross county lines. Wildlife moves across property boundaries. Public parks and trails welcome people from every walk of life. In an era when so much seems to divide us, the outdoors remains one of the few places where people routinely share space and common experiences without first asking one another how they vote.
‘Conservation is also an investment in Tennessee’s future prosperity’
Conservation is also an investment in Tennessee’s future prosperity. Tennessee State Parks generate approximately $1.9 billion in annual economic impact, support more than 13,000 jobs, and contribute more than $133 million in state and local tax revenue. Across the state, healthy natural resources support tourism, outdoor recreation, agriculture, small businesses, and the quality of life that attracts people and employers to Tennessee communities.
Economic growth and conservation are not opposing goals. In many cases, they strengthen one another.
Tennessee has recently demonstrated what that kind of stewardship can look like in practice. Under Gov. Bill Lee’s administration, the state established a statewide Farmland Preservation Fund to help protect working farms from development pressure, invested in the creation and expansion of public parks and outdoor access, and made historic investments in the Heritage Conservation Trust Fund to support land and water conservation across Tennessee.
These efforts reflect a recognition that conserving Tennessee’s natural resources is not simply about protecting scenery. It is about preserving working lands, strengthening local economies, safeguarding water resources, expanding recreational opportunities, and ensuring that future generations inherit a state that remains both prosperous and beautiful.
‘As Tennessee continues to grow, the choices we make today will shape the state future generations inherit’
As Tennessee continues to grow, the choices we make today will shape the state future generations inherit. The farms, forests, rivers, and parks we protect now will continue serving communities long after today’s political debates have faded from memory.
Future Tennesseans will not care which political party helped conserve a family farm, protect a river corridor, or expand access to a beloved park. They will care whether those places still exist.
Conservation has long been one of Tennessee’s areas of common ground. At a time when agreement can feel increasingly rare, that is something worth protecting, too.
Now is the time for our elected leaders at every level to strengthen their commitment to protecting the lands and waters that sustain our communities, support our economy, and define our state. Tennessee’s future depends on bold conservation leadership today.
Alice Hudson Pell
Executive Director
TennGreen Land Conservancy
Alice Hudson Pell is the Executive Director of TennGreen Land Conservancy, Tennessee’s oldest accredited statewide land trust. Since joining TennGreen in 2014, Alice has served in several leadership roles, including Director of Development and Associate Director, before being appointed Executive Director in December 2022.
Top Photo: Sarah Cunningham, Megan Farris Choate, Welch Point, Bridgestone Firestone Centennial Wilderness WMA, White County, by Chuck Sutherland