TennGreen Land Conservancy

As Tennessee's oldest accredited statewide land conservancy, TennGreen Land Conservancy is dedicated to protecting the air we breathe, the water we drink, the vistas we cherish, and everything in between. And all of that is made possible thanks to the generous support of our members and partners.

We are pleased to announce the addition of Michael Mauritz to TennGreen’s Board of Directors! With a deep passion for outdoor exploration and photography, Michael brings a unique perspective to our conservation mission. Born and raised in Connecticut, Michael graduated from Northeastern University with a degree in civil engineering. After spending several years in Utah, he relocated to Middle Tennessee in 2013. Now, he is a Senior Vice President of Intelligent Transportation Systems at TransCore, an international company headquartered in Nashville that focuses on technology integration for transportation systems and traffic management. Michael currently resides in Williamson County with his wife Kim and any number of cats—the couple has fostered over 30 cats and kittens throughout the years. ➡️ Get to know our Board: https://heyor.ca/a6qFB6 #NonprofitLeadership #BoardOfDirectors

"We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Chris Johnsen for partnering with us on this vital project," said Alice Hudson Pell, Executive Director of TennGreen. "Together, we are making a lasting impact, ensuring that future generations can enjoy the beauty and benefits of our natural landscapes. Let’s continue to champion conservation and celebrate each step forward in our journey to preserve Tennessee’s incredible natural heritage." Great write-up in the Cheatham County Exchange about our Dry Fork Hollow project!

The future of environmental conservation is rooted in #diversity. Latino youth are championing initiatives and forcing the #conservation movement to diversify and evolve. #LatinoConservationWeek2024 happening now is an annual initiative by Hispanic Access Foundation to provide Latino communities with programs and activities that connect them with the outdoors. ➡️ Learn more or find an event near you: LatinoConservationWeek.com

After seven years of incredible contributions and leadership, Charles Askew has concluded his service on TennGreen’s Board of Directors. Charles has been instrumental in helping us elevate our presence in West Tennessee and the greater Memphis area, providing thoughtful guidance on many extraordinary projects. We will miss his warmth, his carefulness, and his incredible passion for nature—especially right here in Tennessee. 📸: Charles and his partner, Cynthia, on a past adventure

We love opportunities to work with young talent and bring more people into the conservation community! TennGreen is currently partnering with Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)'s Advertising and Public Relations capstone Campaigns course, taught by the brilliant Tricia M. Farwell, Ph.D. (she/her). We will serve as the client for the class project, allowing a group of MTSU students to gain valuable experience producing and pitching a recommended integrated communication campaign to advance important conservation initiatives. Recently, TennGreen's Multi-media Coordinator, Karlie Stroud, spoke with the class to provide additional insight into our organization. This was a special moment for Karlie, as she previously completed this same course with Dr. Farwell during her time at MTSU and remembers it fondly: "I love Dr. T—she is a role model beyond belief and has done so much to help me and so many other students succeed. I truly feel this course, and specifically this capstone project, helped prepare me for the real world and my work at TennGreen. It makes me happy that we'll now be able to give others the same opportunity I was given to learn and grow in their chosen field."

TennGreen's Director of Development, Geoffrey Parker, with President Mark Peacock at the beautiful Chickasaw Bluff in Drummond, TN! Recently, these two joined Executive Director Alice Hudson Pell on a brief trip to West Tennessee, where they visited Middle Fork Bottoms State Park and two TennGreen project sites: Chickasaw Bluff and the future Ducks Unlimited Park. While at Ducks Unlimited Park, they were joined by Big River Park Conservancy's Executive Director, Chris Ware, to discuss current efforts and visions for the future.

"Anybody who has grandchildren in the state of Tennessee should support TennGreen Land Conservancy. They’re ensuring a better future for our families. Any time I contribute in any way, shape, or form, I know that they are a lean, mean, conservation machine, and I trust them to make decisions with their Strategic Plan that they have for the entire state. They are going to be conserving land forever. If the landowner changes, if the administration at any level of government changes, that land is still going to be protected. That gives me comfort. With the changing climate and changing times, that land is going to be a resource that’s irreplaceable.” 🌳 TennGreen member Brenda Stein, speaking on her support of our organization and our 2024-2029 Strategic Plan. TennGreen's new #StrategicPlan was released earlier this year, identifying key priorities and focal areas to maximize our #conservation impact. Read it here: https://heyor.ca/GonnCS

Had such a great time speaking on our work to protect Nashville's Highland Rim Forest! Meeting with others who are just as passionate about conserving this tremendous natural resource is truly inspiring. Thanks again to Swan Conservation Trust for co-hosting this event with us! #conservation #landconservation #nashville

Governor Bill Lee has proclaimed September as Conservation Month in Tennessee! In a September 5 post announcing this news, Gov. Lee stated, "Proud to proclaim September as Conservation Month across TN. All month long, we'll celebrate our continued commitment to preserving our state's unmatched beauty & rich natural resources, from TN State Parks to nuclear energy innovation & beyond." Gov. Lee joined us at our office in April to discuss ways we can work together to further state conservation efforts amid rapid growth, development, and pressing legislation. It was inspiring to converse about shared conservation values and ways our representatives can guide our state to a brighter future.