Canoeists enjoy a paddle along the Hatchie River in West Tennessee. A recent land acquisition brings the total of bottomland protected in the river corridor to 37,000 acres. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Hatchie Bottom property will join more than 30,000 acres of protected lands along river corridor

Lee Wilmot is a public information officer for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission.

NASHVILLE  — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency in partnership with The Nature Conservancy of Tennessee (TNC) and The Conservation Fund (TCF), announced the acquisition of the Hatchie Bottom property, a 7,457-acre expanse of ecologically rich bottomland hardwood forest along the Hatchie River.

The acquisition represents a major milestone in Tennessee’s Conservation Legacy initiative and fulfills a longstanding priority in the Tennessee State Wildlife Action Plan to protect and preserve critical wildlife habitat. The property will be managed as a new wildlife management area (WMA), and will also provide new opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife watching, and outdoor recreation.

“The Hatchie Bottom acquisition is a powerful example of what we can achieve when conservation partners come together with a shared vision for Tennessee’s natural heritage,” said Gov. Bill Lee. “This acquisition reflects our commitment to safeguarding the state’s most treasured landscapes while expanding opportunities for Tennesseans to connect with the outdoors. It’s an investment in our environment, our communities, and the generations to come in the Volunteer State.”

The state of Tennessee is partnering with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reintroduce the red-cockaded woodpecker to the mixed-pine forests of the state. Renee Bodine/USFWS

The threatened woodpecker was extirpated from Tennessee by 1994 due largely to fire suppression and loss of habitat

Lee Wilmot is a Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency information specialist. 

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will partner with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reintroduce the Red-cockaded Woodpecker (RCW), a species extirpated from Tennessee in 1994.

“The return of the red-cockaded woodpecker is not just a biological milestone—it’s a triumph of collaboration for all Tennesseans,” said Gov. Bill Lee. “From land acquisitions in the 1990s to recent restoration efforts, I am proud this project reflects the power of shared vision and long-term commitment that benefits the Volunteer State. This is conservation at its best, and a promise kept to the land, the people, and future generations of Tennesseans.”

The red-cockaded woodpecker, once native to upland mature pine and oak-pine savannas in Tennessee, was extirpated from the state due to fire suppression, logging of old-growth pines, and habitat fragmentation. The last known such woodpecker in Tennessee was observed in 1994 in Cherokee National Forest. 

Participants will learn about state wildlife plans, educational techniques and efforts to stem declining biodiversity across the state and Southeast

Lee Wilmot is a TWRA public information officer.

MURFREESBORO — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency announces the inaugural Tennessee Biodiversity Summit, an event celebrating the state’s rich habitats and multitude of species.

The summit is set for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 22 at Middle Tennessee State University. All wildlife enthusiasts, including experts, birdwatchers, hunters, and anyone with an interest in nature, are invited to participate in this experience packed with opportunities to learn about wildlife, habitats, and conservation in Tennessee.

Eight dynamic speakers will deliver presentations centered on this year’s theme, Tennessee’s Biodiversity: Past, Present, and Future, highlighting some of the current wildlife projects taking place across the state. Participants will also learn about the updated State Wildlife Action Plan, a federally guided blueprint to prevent the decline of biodiversity. This plan engages a broad array of partners, including other government agencies, conservation groups, private landowners, and others in the development process, many of which will be educating at the event.