Conservation Groups Expand Tennessee's Fiery Gizzard Trail

This press release was originally published by TennGreen Land Conservancy and published here with permission.

MARION COUNTY, Tenn. — Today, TennGreen Land Conservancy (formerly the Tennessee Parks & Greenways Foundation) and The Conservation Fund announced a critical expansion along the popular Fiery Gizzard Trail in South Cumberland State Park.

By purchasing this land and adding it to the park, the partners helped secure the viewshed of the popular trail that will connect Denny Cove, Foster Falls, and most of the park system.

The Conservation Fund and TennGreen purchased this tract vital to the park’s and the Fiery Gizzard Trail’s continuity and transferred it to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) for permanent protection. The acquired land contains rich forests essential for wildlife habitat and outdoor enthusiasts. A portion of Little Gizzard Creek runs through this land.

“Securing this land and a portion of the Fiery Gizzard Trail for conservation will have lasting environmental and economic benefits for the community,” said Ralph Knoll, The Conservation Fund’s Tennessee state director. “We’re honored to have helped make this property permanently a part of South Cumberland State Park, one of Tennessee’s many iconic recreation destinations.”

Conservation of these unprotected forests along the Cumberland Plateau, particularly at Fiery Gizzard, is a priority for TDEC, the Cradle of Appalachia Initiatives by the Thrive Regional Partnership (of which TennGreen is a member), the Natural Treasures Alliance, and the Southeast Conservation Blueprint version 4.0. TennGreen and The Conservation Fund are proud to have negotiated and facilitated this important land purchase, which was supported through the Open Space Institute. Now in TDEC ownership, the land will be managed for recreation and habitat protection, securing the property’s natural treasures from development, timber harvesting, and mineral extraction.

“OSI is proud to have helped to secure this resounding conservation win for the state of Tennessee,” said Joel Houser, OSI’s Southeast field coordinator. “The Fiery Gizzard is a remarkable place that not only is a home for wildlife but also a tremendous boost to the local recreational economy. We congratulate TennGreen Land Conservancy and The Conservation Fund on their dogged efforts to see this land protected.”

“This is an excellent addition to South Cumberland State Park,” Jim Byson, deputy commissioner of TDEC, said. “The acquisition presents the potential for both forest preservation and recreation. We are grateful for the leadership TennGreen and The Conservation Fund have shown with this step.”

This expansion at Fiery Gizzard was supported through the Open Space Institute’s Southern Cumberland Land Protection Fund made possible with funding from the Lyndhurst Foundation, Benwood Foundation, and Merck Family Fund, which seek to protect wildlife habitat and biodiversity in landscapes that are critical to facilitating adaptation to climate change. Additional funding for the acquisition was provided by The Tucker Foundation.

About TennGreen Land Conservancy
TennGreen Land Conservancy (formerly the Tennessee Parks & Greenways Foundation) is a 501(c)(3) environmental nonprofit and the oldest accredited statewide land conservancy in Tennessee. Through sound science and partnerships, TennGreen identifies and conserves land across Tennessee for wildlife corridors, critical habitat, and public benefit. TennGreen protects, cares for, and connects people with Tennessee’s natural world by providing meaningful outdoor experiences, establishing conservation easements, supporting restoration efforts, and acquiring (or assisting in the acquisition of) privately held land. To learn more, visit tenngreen.org.

About The Conservation Fund
At The Conservation Fund, we make conservation work for America. By creating solutions that make environmental and economic sense, we are redefining conservation to demonstrate its essential role in our future prosperity. Top-ranked for efficiency and effectiveness, we have worked in all 50 states since 1985 to protect more than eight million acres of land, including over 327,000 acres in Tennessee.

Contact:
Alice Hudson Pell | TennGreen Land Conservancy | alice@tenngreen.org | 615-329-4441
Val Keefer | The Conservation Fund | vkeefer@conservationfund.org | 703-908-5802