New Donation to the Parks
John Edwards November 23rd, 2007
The Nature Conservancy and the state of Tennessee have completed the largest conservation transaction in the state since the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the 1930s — to protect nearly 130,000 acres of majestic hardwood forests, mountains and streams on the Cumberland Plateau:
- The area saved — three times the size of the District of Columbia — also links to 66,000 acres of existing public lands.
- The result is a wildlife corridor amounting to 300 square miles of protected forestland for black bear, elk, white-tailed deer, turkey and numerous migratory songbirds such as the cerulean warbler and the wood thrush.
- All 193,000 acres of these lands are now also open to the public for recreation, including hunting, hiking and fishing.
- Nearly 11,000 acres purchased by the Conservancy and the state, on the north and east boundaries of Frozen Head State Natural Area.
- 75,000 acres of timber rights purchased for both segments of the Sundquist Wildlife Management Area. Acquired in 2003, these forested state lands were in danger of being cut drastically by any timber companies that acquired the rights.
- 42,000 acres of conservation easements purchased on timber company lands, restricting cutting to no more than new growth and allowing public access.