Cedars of Lebanon State Park and Natural Area
In 2021 and 2023, TennGreen Land Conservancy partnered with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) to acquire land adjacent to Cedars of Lebanon State Park and Natural Area near Nashville. Hosting thousands of guests each year, Cedars of Lebanon represents a unique habitat of limestone cedar glades, a rare ecosystem found in Middle Tennessee.
Cedar glades have thin, rocky soil where the limestone underfoot is very close to the surface, if not totally exposed. Eastern red cedar trees (Juniperus virginiana) grow on the edge of these rocky patches, granting the ecosystem its name. Cedars of Lebanon contains rare and endangered species that thrive in the unique cedar glade landscape. Some of these species exist in few or no other places in the world. Examples of endemic cedar glade species include Tennessee coneflower (Echinacea tennesseensis), Nashville breadroot (Pediomelum subacaule), and limestone fameflower (Talinum calcaricum).
As our state experiences increased development, the lands near Middle Tennessee’s cedar glades support critical biodiversity facing this urgent threat. With more people and businesses moving into the region, TennGreen and partners have acknowledged the importance of protecting additional areas of biodiversity while these natural habitats remain.
Through funding from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife program, in July 2023, TennGreen and partners completed a restoration effort on property adjacent to Cedars of Lebanon. Using a “masticator,” a forestry mulching machine, the Service cut and mulched several eastern red cedar trees (Juniperus virginiana) encroaching on the land’s cedar glade habitat. These restoration efforts help ensure rare cedar glade flowers get much-needed access to sunlight while also connecting and expanding the existing glades so they can thrive.
In addition to restoration work, TennGreen and TDEC are working together to proactively protect the lands surrounding Cedars of Lebanon, specifically engaging with landowners to place conservation easements along the park boundaries in this rapidly developing area. The purpose of these easements is to protect rare cedar glades and other wildlife habitats, minimize negative impacts on the land from future development, and allow for continued use of prescribed fire for land management.
Do you own cedar glade habitat or land near State-owned cedar glades that you’re interested in protecting? A conservation easement is the strongest tool to preserve your land forever. To learn more, please contact our experts at land@tenngreen.org or call (615) 329-4441 today!