Conservation Groups Join to Expand Largest Wildlife Management Area in Tennessee

The Conservation Fund, TennGreen Land Conservancy and The Nature Conservancy have collaborated to protect 709 acres of critical land and wildlife habitat bordering the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in northeastern Tennessee. 

The North Cumberland WMA is home to nearly 200,000 acres of continuous public land, making it the largest WMA active in the state. The new parcel borders the current WMA on three sides and will be incorporated into the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s management plan for the larger area.

Protecting this land is of critical importance. The North Cumberland WMA reintroduced elk to the land in the early 2000s and now boasts one of the largest free-roaming elk populations east of the Mississippi River. A central elk viewing tower attracts over 15,000 visitors each year and offers access to birdwatching for at-risk species including the Cerulean warbler whose global habitat is dwindling.

“There is no public land in Tennessee quite like the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area. By expanding the land protected in this area, we are ensuring that locals and visitors alike can continue to cherish this landscape,” says Alice Hudson Pell, executive director, TennGreen Land Conservancy. 

The expansion of the area also helps to safeguard water quality along the New River while increasing access to backcountry camping, hunting and opportunities for the local outdoor recreational economy.

“Protecting this high conservation-value land brings with it the dual benefit of protecting the environment while creating increased potential for the local recreation economy,” says Zachary Lesch-Huie, Tennessee state director at The Conservation Fund. “We are proud to join with our partners to support this meaningful project to ensure that locals and visitors alike can enjoy this valuable natural landscape for years to come.”

The three conservation groups secured the privately owned land when it came on the market. They transferred the property to the State of Tennessee on September 18 for future protection and management.

“Tennessee’s Northern Cumberland Plateau region is one of the Southeast’s most important landscapes. By collaborating with partners, we have created an opportunity to protect wildlife migration corridors, and vast blocks of connected, climate change-resilient native forests. This addition builds upon decades of land protection and habitat restoration, benefitting Tennessee and the planet,” says Laurel Creech, Tennessee state director at The Nature Conservancy.

Tim Churchill, the Chief Federal Aid and Real Estate Division at Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency celebrates this. “Thanks to the collaborative efforts of our conservation partners, we continue to expand the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area. From camping, fishing and wildlife watching—to providing critical habitat for several endangered species—this expansion opens new doors for our work,” he says.

This project was funded in part by the Tennessee Heritage Conservation Trust Fund.