TennGreen Land Conservancy

As Tennessee's oldest accredited statewide land conservancy, TennGreen Land Conservancy is dedicated to protecting the air we breathe, the water we drink, the vistas we cherish, and everything in between. And all of that is made possible thanks to the generous support of our members and partners. To learn more and get involved: https://bit.ly/3Nea479

Congratulations to our very own Conservation Project Manager, Kristen Hanratty, on becoming a 2024 Nashville Emerging Leader Awards (NELAs) Finalist 🎉! The NELAs recognize young professionals who are excelling in their fields and making a difference in the Nashville community. Join us in recognizing the nominees and register for the ceremony here: https://bit.ly/3WdhtIu And congratulations to all of Nashville's other nominees!

The Cumberland Trail, a long-distance hiking trail that will span over 300 miles once completed, illustrates the importance of large, connected corridors. These corridors, made up of unbroken habitats and connections, play a crucial role in maintaining the health and vitality of our environment. By offering additional places to live and promoting the exchange of genes, connected corridors increase the ability of populations to withstand and recover from disturbances, natural disasters, and the effects of climate change. Since 1998, TennGreen's collaborative efforts have yielded many successes in expanding the Trail, with notable acquisitions and conservation easements depicted in yellow on this map:

Please welcome Nashville native Beau Fish, MBA as TennGreen's Board Intern! Born and raised in West Nashville, Beau graduated from Father Ryan High School, the University of Tennessee, and Tennessee State University. He currently works in Wealth Management at Roussel & Associates, and his love for the outdoors started on Monteagle Mountain. Beau has spent every summer there since early childhood, and his favorite outdoor activities include hiking, camping, and floating down any river. In other words, he fits right in! Beau also holds a deep passion for helping others. His volunteer work includes being a Young Leaders Council Cohort, a young professional board & finance committee member at Saddle Up, and now as board intern with TennGreen! In his free time, he enjoys "Playing golf, seeing live music, and cheering on the Vols!" Welcome, Beau! ☀️

In 2007, the Brantons donated a conservation easement on their 423-acre property along the Blackburn Fork Scenic River. Recognizing the importance of preserving nature, they later donated their home and 162 acres to TennGreen in 2011, with the remainder of their land following suit in 2014. This act of generosity transformed the area into the Blackburn Fork Wildlife Management Area, safeguarding critical habitat for species like the Cerulean Warbler and Louisiana Waterthrush. Blackburn Fork, nestled within the Cumberland River watershed, stands as a testament to their dedication to conservation and the protection of our precious wildlife. Let's honor their legacy and commitment to preserving nature for future generations! 🌍

In September 2022, we partnered with Robert D. McCaleb, the Open Space Institute, and The Nature Conservancy to achieve a conservation milestone by securing permanent protection for Custard Hollow through a conservation easement. Nestled in southeastern Tennessee, Custard Hollow's 620 acres boast unique species, vital habitat, and significant caves hidden within its karst topography. This region, boasting the world’s largest broadleaf forest and serving as a vital carbon sink, is a refuge for countless plant and animal species vulnerable to habitat loss from climate change. The permanent protection of Custard Hollow safeguards crucial waters and wildlife habitat on privately owned land. This project was funded through OSI 's Appalachian Landscapes Protection Fund, which supports the protection of climate-resilient lands for wildlife and communities. The Fund is made possible thanks to major support from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and additional funding from Lyndhurst, Riverview, and Tucker Foundations, and Jack McKee. 🌟🌳

West Tennessee is Changing... Let’s Protect it Together. “A natural area like this does something for your soul. It just refreshes you every time you get out.” West Tennessee… A vast landscape of wetlands, floodplains, rolling agriculture, and bustling cityscapes intertwined with sleepy southern towns. But this deep-rooted heartland that we cherish, like so many others, is in danger of disappearing. “Just think, thirty years from now, some developer – if I kick the bucket tomorrow – some developer would be out here and it’d be a bunch of houses.” – Nick Nunn, Nunn Farm landowner “Growing up in this area, we have always been outdoors people. I had two brothers, and we lived in a residential neighborhood, but we were five houses away from streams and fields. Between the three of us, we’d come back just nasty from head to toe.” – Jim Gafford, Director of Outreach, WRC This natural beauty and accessibility of West Tennessee has been combatting accelerated change for quite some time. But some things never change, like our connections to this incredible place. While TennGreen Land Conservancy and partners like Wolf River Conservancy work tirelessly to protect our natural resources, it comes down to local residents to protect their private farmlands. “I work in an office all day, and I’m a guy who has to be outside… So, this is a big tract of land that I was able, through TennGreen, to put a conservation easement on. Once stuff go into asphalt, it’s gone—for what I really enjoy, anyway. And so, that was the main thing for me, anyway, to be able to come out here and have it as it was when I bought it.” – Nunn This is why we’re here. And as Tennessee’s oldest accredited statewide land conservancy, TennGreen is beyond committed to protecting all of Tennessee’s resources… For all of us. “Agriculture and farmland are as Tennessean as they come. And it’s up to each of us to be able to support the systems we have here in place. At TennGreen, we very much so value these particular lands." – Alice Hudson Pell, Executive Director, TennGreen Development is necessary for humanity to thrive, but over-development ends in devastation. And placing property into a conservation easement is one of the most powerful protective tools we have as American citizens. “Now that it’s protected forever, I feel confident that anybody who owns it down the road, they have to abide by the rules and restrictions that are in place. Through TennGreen and the easement, I feel like what I wanted to be accomplished has been accomplished.” – Nunn And as West Tennessee continues to develop, nothing can change one simple fact: we are all part of nature. We’re all in this together. And by working together to preserve this incredible state, we’re conserving lands and waters where we’ll all thrive—protecting the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the land that sustains us all. For more information on conservation easements and Tennessee conservation, please visit: tenngreen.org

Did you know that wetlands are essential ecosystems that support a rich diversity of plant and animal life? In 2019, we had the privilege of partnering with MRW Environmental Inc. to encumber a wetland mitigation site. Through a conservation easement, we're restoring this agricultural land to its native wetland ecosystem, enhancing riparian buffers, and improving stream habitat. The Banks Pisgah project not only conserves vital wetland habitats but also safeguards endangered species like the Barrens Topminnow and rare Flame Chub found in Sink Creek. 🐟 Thank you to our partners and supporters for helping us make a difference in wetland conservation!

HAPPY HOLLOW ☀️🌿 In May 2014, TennGreen partnered with the Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC) and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) to help facilitate the transfer of 1,548 acres from TDOC to TWRA. Once transferred to TWRA’s management, the property became the Happy Hollow Wildlife Management Area. This forested property contains approximately two miles of Happy Hollow Creek, from which the WMA gets its name. Also in 2014, TennGreen acquired approximately 205 acres along the Duck River, which were added to the WMA.

In honor of tomorrow being National Trails Day, we're celebrating our love for Tennessee's breathtaking trails. From the majestic Great Smoky Mountains to the serene Cumberland River, our state is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country.🌄 Check out our blog post to discover some of our favorite trails across Tennessee and get inspired to hit the trails this weekend! ⬇️#NationalTrailsDay