Our research partners at UTC’s IGTLab have received two awards for the Cradle of Southern Appalachia map.

The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga’s Interdisciplinary Geospatial Technology Lab won two awards at the Tennessee Geographic Information Council Summit. The IGTLab was named winner of the Best Map Overall and the Best Static Map Categories. 

The map that won both awards displays the Greater Chattanooga region for our Cradle of Southern Appalachia initiative, which highlights critical areas of conservation focus. By identifying key locations, the map aims to support regional partners as they meet bold conservation goals by 2050. 

The map guides the efforts of the Thrive Regional Partnership's Natural Treasures Alliance, a collective of 30+ conservation, outdoor recreation, and land management entities dedicated to long-term landscape preservation across the tri-state greater Chattanooga region. The map ranks lands based on their climate resilience, intact habitat cores, wildlife corridors, and proximity to other protected areas. Through sound data and collaborative strategies, Thrive's Natural Treasures Alliance seeks to preserve the region's landscape and the quality of life it promises for future generations.