Keep Public Land in Public Hands
Approximately 10 percent—2.4 million acres—of Tennessee land is public land, yet public land generates $30 billion for Tennessee’s economy every year.
Public lands provide opportunities for millions of Tennessee residents and visitors to experience the outdoors in ways they would not otherwise be able to.
Outdoorsmen and women have all used and benefited from public lands—whether for hiking, hunting, fishing, camping, birdwatching, boating, or just enjoying some fresh air.
Public lands are valuable in numerous ways. Those who spend time outdoors, no matter how often, find social value. And public lands are vital for wildlife because large tracts of public land mean larger connected spaces of wildlife habitat. These values intertwine to impact the lands and communities surrounding them.
In 2022, Tennessee Wildlife Federation brought together a coalition of partners to stop the transfer of Yanahli Wildlife Management Area from the state to Maury County. This was a great win for public lands, but there is still work to be done.
To properly manage and provide access to public lands requires dedicated, consistent funding.
Advocacy from Tennessee Wildlife Federation and hundreds of other organizations across the country—as well as support from millions of outdoorsmen—led to passage of the Great American Outdoors Act in 2020, which provided millions of dollars to maintain national parks and fully funded the Land and Water Conservation Fund to protect public lands.
Public lands are a collective resource, and it is the responsibility of all Tennesseans to support and speak up for Tennessee’s public lands.
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53rd Annual Conservation Achievement Awards Recognize Conservation Leaders
On Friday, May 18, the Federation hosted its 53rd Annual Conservation Achievement Awards, at Loveless Cafe Barn, in Nashville.
You are the Key to Keeping Public Lands in Tennessee
Tennessee is home to approximately 2.4 million acres of public land and waterways. These lands include national parks, wildlife refuges and forests, state parks and forests, and local parks....
Tennessee Wildlife Federation Named Affiliate of the Year
Tennessee Wildlife Federation has been named Affiliate of the Year by the National Wildlife Federation. The award recognizes the broad work of the organization—from youth engagement to public...