Fiery Gizzard Trail in South Cumberland State Park expanded for habitat protection and recreational opportunities in the Cradle of Southern Appalachia.
Marion County, Tenn.— 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. 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. 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 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.
Banner photo: Michael Hicks