The Environmental Journal of Southern Appalachia
15 Life on Land

15 Life on Land (149)

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

July Green Drinks — North Hills Progressive Garden Tour

Green Drinks Knoxville logo

Wednesday, July 9, 5:30 p.m., 2025

For more information and RSVP go to “Green Drinks Knoxville” on Facebook

Garden Tour stop

KNOXVILLE —  Walking tour of 3 Green Drinker’s personal gardens in the beautiful North Hills neighborhood. Also see different sustainable home practices including solar panel arrays, interesting home-grown fruits, rain barrels and an irrigation drip system.

Green Drinks Knoxville is a social and professional organization that convenes open-minded folks to encourage education and conversation about the environment, green technologies, sustainable lifestyles and more. Our events are free and open to the public. We welcome all and support racial diversity, gender equality and LGBTQ inclusivity.

GardenPollinator webPollinators play a vital role in maintaining our ecosystems, economies and agriculture. Here’s a bee in flight at the UT Gardens in Knoxville.  R. Lazarian/UTIA

Get your buzz on in Knoxville or two other locations in the state during Pollinator Week June 16-25

Lauren Tolley is a University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture marketing and communications associate. 

KNOXVILLE — The University of Tennessee Bee Campus Committee, a group comprised of UT faculty, staff and students, in partnership with the Tennessee Valley Authority and UT Gardens, invites communities across the state to celebrate national Pollinator Week at a series of “Garden Buzz” pollinator events on June 17.

Pollinator Week is an annual celebration in support of pollinator health, initiated and managed by the Pollinator Partnership. This year’s theme is “Pollinators Weave Connections” — highlighting the essential roles pollinators play in creating and expression of human culture, the food we enjoy and the beauty that surrounds us. Pollinator Week is June 16-25.

Similar to UT and TVA’s collaborative Garden Buzz celebrations in previous years, the 2025 Garden Buzz celebrations will offer participants opportunities to learn more about pollinators in Tennessee through educational activities. Attendees can also learn how to start their own pollinator gardens with locally grown plants that help support a thriving ecosystem.

Last modified on Tuesday, 24 June 2025 23:28
Monday, 12 May 2025 21:56

Roles and history of riparian forests in Tennessee

Green Drinks Knoxville logo

Wednesday, May 14, 5:30 p.m.
South Side Garage
1014 Sevier Ave, Knoxville

For more information and RSVP go to “Green Drinks Knoxville” on Facebook

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Join us on our NEW date, the second Wednesdays of the month

KNOXVILLE — Tennessee has a natural abundance of water resources and biodiverse ecosystems. Unfortunately, 60% of Tennessee’s waterways are not meeting federal standards.

Stream habitat has been consistently declining in the last several decades. Restoring and conserving high value riparian areas will be an essential part of combating the negative impacts of urban development.

Barriers to resources prevent communities from effectively tackling these projects on their own, severely limiting cohesive statewide efforts for water quality improvement.

Maddy Johnson will introduce practical methods of restoring a riparian area in various settings at no to low cost.

Green Drinks Knoxville is a social and professional organization that convenes open-minded folks to encourage education and conversation about the environment, green technologies, sustainable lifestyles, and more. Our events are free and open to the public. We welcome all and support racial diversity, gender equality and LGBTQ inclusivity.

Last modified on Friday, 16 May 2025 11:58

beesA bee pollinates an almond tree in an orchard. Concerns are growing that there is an increasing disconnect between pollinating plants and their pollinators due to climate change.  David Kosling/U.S. Department of Agriculture

The problem with climate change isn’t just the temperature. It’s how fast the climate is changing.

This story was originally published by The Conversation. Courtney McGinnis is a professor of biology, medical sciences and environmental sciences at Quinnipiac University.

Historically, Earth’s climate changes have generally happened over thousands to millions of years. Today, global temperatures are increasing by about 0.36 degrees Fahrenheit (0.2 degrees Celsius) per decade.

Imagine a car speeding up. Over time, human activities such as burning fossil fuels, have increased the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. These gases trap heat from the Sun. This is like pressing the gas pedal. The faster the driver adds gas, the faster the car goes. 

The 21st century has seen a dramatic acceleration in the rate of climate change, with global temperatures rising more than three times faster than in the previous century.

The faster pace and higher temperatures are changing habitat ranges for plants and animals. In some regions, the pace of change is also throwing off the delicate timing of pollination, putting plants and pollinators such as bees at risk.

Some species are already migrating

Most plant and animal species can tolerate or at least recover from short-term changes in climate, such as a heat wave. When the changes last longer, however, organisms may need to migrate into new areas to adapt for survival.

Last modified on Friday, 09 May 2025 23:28

West Tennessee Wetlands Mitigation Bank 2048x1365 Water collects among trees at the West Tennessee Wetlands Mitigation Bank — a wetland restored from its days as farmland — near the Loosahatchie River in Shelby County, Tenn.  Karen Pulfer Focht for Tennessee Lookout

Bill’s supporters call it a win for private property; opponents say it’s a loss for all Tennesseans

This story was originally published by Tennessee Lookout.

NASHVILLE — A bill slashing regulations for an estimated 80 percent of Tennessee’s non-federally protected wetlands headed to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk this week after receiving approval from the General Assembly.

The bill’s West Tennessee Republican sponsors — Rep. Kevin Vaughan and Sen. Brent Taylor — said the legislation removes onerous and seemingly subjective mitigation requirements for landowners and developers. 

Environmental advocates and scientists said the legislation paves the way for the destruction of Tennessee’s natural resources.

The bill passed 71-21 with one abstention in the House, and 25-6 in the Senate.

Since the 1970s, wetland regulations in Tennessee have required developers and landowners to seek permission from the state before draining or altering wetlands. The swampy areas can host diverse species, soak up rain water and filter it as it seeps into groundwater tables, recharging aquifers. Alterations to wetlands required developers to pay for mitigation — efforts to preserve or restore other wetlands nearby. 

Last modified on Saturday, 26 April 2025 00:38

Paul Stoddard Gate 2048x1365 1 Paul Stoddard, a principal at environmental consulting firm EnSafe, unlocks the gate to the West Tennessee Wetlands Mitigation Bank in Shelby County. EnSafe planted more than 50,000 trees to restore portions of this 250-acre wetland, creating credits for developers to purchase to offset destruction of wetlands elsewhere.  Karen Pulfer Focht for Tennessee Lookout

Interests of all stripes push to preserve state wetlands protections against pro-developer pressure

This story is part of the series Down the Drain from the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk, an independent reporting collaborative based at the University of Missouri in partnership with Report for America, with major funding from the Walton Family Foundation. 

LEWISBURG Fourth-generation Middle Tennessee cattle farmer Cole Liggett lined up with scientists and environmental advocates in March to urge Tennessee lawmakers not to gut the state’s historically strong protections for wetlands.

Wetlands protection has been good business for Liggett. In addition to raising cattle, he’s a manager at Headwaters Reserve, a firm that developers pay to preserve and restore wetlands and streams so they can destroy them elsewhere, called mitigation banking. If lawmakers follow through on a plan to deregulate an estimated 80 percent of the state’s isolated wetlands, that will upend the industry in Tennessee and drive up prices for developers still required to pay for mitigation, Liggett testified.

Liggett works in a growing industry that operates more than 2,500 mitigation banks nationwide, earning an estimated $3.5 billion in revenue in 2019, according to a 2023 study funded by the Ecological Restoration Business Association. 

The industry is built on demand spurred by the 1972 U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires developers to offset their damage to wetlands by building or restoring wetlands nearby.

But recent federal actions to shrink the scope of that law are pushing states to choose how strictly they will regulate wetlands. The consequences of those decisions not only threaten further degradation of land, water and wildlife, but also the fortunes of an industry that has made a big business out of conservation.

Last modified on Sunday, 27 April 2025 16:54

Growing acorns on a twig among oak leaves              One of the goals behind a recent partnership among UTIA and state agencies is the promotion of heartier food species such as this oak. The new five-year agreement between the UTIA Tree Improvement Program, the Tennessee Division of Forestry and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency focuses on developing locally adapted and genetically improved seed for future Tennessee forests.  Allison Mains/UTIA

UTIA Tree Improvement Program and state agencies work together to protect and conserve the state’s forest resources

Katie Donaldson is a communications specialist for the University of Tennessee School of Natural Resources.

KNOXVILLE — A new, five-year agreement establishes how the state of Tennessee and a program in the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture will study and produce tree seedlings to promote the protection and conservation of Tennessee forests.

The UTIA Tree Improvement Program (UT-TIP), the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry (TDF) and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) partnered on the agreement.

“Honoring our land-grant mission, we are excited about this partnership to responsibly research, develop, manage and conserve forest resources across the great state of Tennessee,” said Keith Carver, UTIA senior vice chancellor and senior vice president.

UT-TIP manages numerous seed orchards in East, Middle and West Tennessee with help from state and federal partners. It uses the orchards to provide the East Tennessee Nursery with locally adapted and genetically improved seed. 

Last modified on Sunday, 27 April 2025 00:49

Get down and dirty with history at Big South Fork celebration of spring

Ferrier 17 1A farrier demonstrates his skills during a past installment of the annual Spring Planting and Music Festival at Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, set this year for April 26.  National Park Service

ONEIDA — Step back in time and experience history in motion at the 25th Annual Spring Planting and Music Festival from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. April 26 at Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.

Traditions of early Appalachian settlers come to life at this free, family-friendly event. Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in the heritage of the Big South Fork region with live demonstrations, traditional crafts, music and hands-on activities that showcase the self-sufficient way of life practiced by generations past. 

Set against the picturesque backdrop of the Oscar and Lora Blevins farm sites and the Bandy Creek area, the festival offers a rare opportunity to experience traditional Appalachian life. Visitors will see a variety of demonstrations and hands-on activities that highlight the skills and craftsmanship of early settlers.

One of the festival’s most anticipated highlights is the plowing and planting demonstration with mule and horse teams at the Lora Blevins field.

Children and adults alike will enjoy exploring old-time toys and taking part in interactive exhibits that make history come alive. Live music will be provided by some of the region’s most talented musicians.

WETLANDS001 2048x1296 Tennessee lawmakers are considering a bill that would roll back regulations for “isolated” wetlands that don’t have surface connections to waters of the United States.  John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout

Legal firm’s representative’s testimony focused on property rights in midst of pro-developer legislative push in Tennessee

This story was originally published by Tennessee Lookout.

NASHVILLE — A representative from the legal firm that fought for deregulation of American wetlands at the U.S. Supreme Court spoke Wednesday in support of a Tennessee bill that would roll back protections for up to 80 percent of the state’s isolated wetlands.

Tennessee lawmakers are considering a bill that would significantly reduce requirements for development on wetlands, swampy lands that support diverse ecosystems, soak up floodwaters and recharge groundwater.

A state House subcommittee voted 7-2 to advance the bill to the full House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, where it will be heard on April 1. 

The state’s current regulations predate the federal Clean Water Act, which imposed the first federal protections for wetlands in the 1970s, requiring developers to compensate for destroying wetlands by preserving or restoring them elsewhere.

But the erosion of federal regulations in the last two years has given states more power to decide how they will define and protect wetlands. 

Last modified on Monday, 31 March 2025 01:27
Friday, 14 March 2025 19:43

UT professor ate research subjects

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regenwald 1920Cameroon’s vast and species-rich rainforests are of great importance for global biodiversity and the climate. They are also an important source of food and income for local people. A new study on hunting patterns in the jungles of West Africa includes research gathered by a University of Tennessee professor.  Thomas Imo/German Federal Government

Adam Willcox subsisted on bush meat during African hunting study

Katie Donaldson is a communications specialist for the University of Tennessee School of Natural Resources.

KNOXVILLE — Data collected by a University of Tennessee research associate nearly 30 years ago is part of an extensive study that focuses on hunting patterns in African tropical forests.

Adam Willcox, a research associate professor in the UT Institute of Agriculture School of Natural Resources, co-authored the article, which was published recently in Nature Sustainability. “Regional patterns of wild animal hunting in African tropical forests” was also written by Daniel J. Ingram, research fellow at the University of Kent, and several other researchers. The data show how hunting management is needed to sustain wild animal populations in West and Central Africa.

The article uses data collected from 1991 to 2022 in 83 different studies to create a regional analysis of hunting patterns. Willcox contributed to the publication using research and data he gathered from 1996 to 2001 while promoting agroforestry in the U.S. Peace Corps in Cameroon. “I was in a lowland tropical forest. We did not have domestic alternatives for protein. We had to eat wild animals,” Willcox said. “My research followed 100 hunters around a wildlife sanctuary in Cameroon and their harvests.” 

Last modified on Tuesday, 18 March 2025 15:32
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