None The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee Press Releases Search All Press Releases Gina Hancock 2021 21st Ave. South, Suite C-400 Nashville, TN 37212 (615) 383-9909 ghancock@tnc.org

Tanner Tours Hatchie Conservation Efforts

Washington, D.C. — 13 October 2003 — U.S. Rep. John Tanner today visited the Hatchie River to see progress that has been made to protect the river, its bottomland forests and diverse fish and wildlife.  Tanner has worked with the Nature Conservancy to protect the Hatchie from sedimentation and other threats to the river and rich bottomland hardwood forest resources there.

"We have to protect our natural resources for generations to come," Congressman Tanner said.  "We have been trying our hardest to take care of the Hatchie River, and organizations like the Nature Conservancy are key to that.  The Nature Conservancy has called the Hatchie River 'one of the 75 last great places on Earth,' and have been dedicated to protecting it now and in the future.

"Efforts like these are going on all across Tennessee -- to preserve the land, water and wildlife that make this state beautiful.  I am proud of what we are able to do to protect our most precious natural resources."

The Nature Conservancy has also protected one of the largest blocks of Mississippi River bottomland forest in Tennessee.  The 12,000-acre tract will be turned over to the state of Tennessee for further protection.

"For years, our state has not been able to take advantage of federal programs like Forest Legacy. With leadership from Congressmen like Rep. John Tanner, the citizens of west Tennessee will have a place that their children's children can enjoy for years to come," said Scott Davis, state director of The Nature Conservancy's Tennessee chapter.

The Hatchie River, the site of one of several National Wildlife Refuges in Tennessee, stretches roughly 200 miles through Tennessee, making it one of the longest unchannelized rivers remaining in the lower Mississippi River Valley.  It provides habitat for more than 100 species of fish, including 11 species of catfishes - more species than any other river in North America.  The river is also home to several rare turtle species and about 250 bird species. 

The Nature Conservancy is a leading international, nonprofit organization that preserves plants, animals and natural communities representing the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 14 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 83 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. In Tennessee, we have helped protect more than 140,000 acres.

Tanner represents Tennessee's 8^th Congressional District and is a long-time champion of conservation efforts in west and middle Tennessee.

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