Policy and Legislative Initiatives
We work with local, state and federal partners on advancing policies and legislation that support a sustainable future for people and wildlife.
When it comes to policy and legislation, The Nature Conservancy works in a non-partisan fashion with policymakers on both sides of the aisle who want to work collaboratively on behalf of nature. Our science-based approach focuses on what brings us together, not on what divides us. By sharing our years of on-the-ground expertise, we can help inform policy that moves conservation forward.
TNC Weighs In
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In 2023, TNC marked the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Signed into law on December 28, 1973 the ESA has benefited numerous plants and animals comprising our nation’s unique biodiversity, including gray bats, shiny pigtoe clams, snail darters, red-legged salamanders and Ruth’s golden aster in Tennessee. Together with other important tools employed by conservation organizations, government agencies and private landowners, the ESA continues to serve as an important tool to helping rare species survive and recover from threats and damage to their natural habitats.
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In an open letter published in 2024, TNC's Tennessee State Director, Laurel Creech, thanked Governor Lee and the Tennessee Legislature for approving $71.5 million in funding through the Tennessee Heritage Conservation Trust Fund to be used for conserving Tennessee’s landscapes, supporting wildlife, expanding outdoor recreation and building climate resilience. Creech also called for more innovative strategies that generate recurring, predictable annual funding for nature—in Tennessee and beyond—to address the effects of a changing climate and a global decline in biodiversity.
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TNC contributed expertise to a Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) working group focused on the 2025 Integrated Resource Plan, a comprehensive effort aimed at shaping TVA’s energy system through 2050. Having a seat at this table provided an opportunity to advocate for a clean energy transition that benefits the nature, our climate and local communities. It represents the first time that TNC has served in this type of role in a U.S. energy utility planning process, an experience that will serve as a model for broader TNC engagement with this industry nationwide.
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TNC has met with the Tennessee Congressional delegation about securing authorization in the 2024 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) for the next phase of the Hatchie-to-Loosahatchie Ecosystem Restoration Project. Over time, alterations to the river channel have compromised this 39-mile stretch, hindering the surrounding landscape from naturally absorbing and filtering seasonal water flows and supporting the life cycles of numerous fish, birds and other species. TNC supported an effort by state agency partners and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to craft a plan for restoring and reconnecting natural areas in the Hatchie-to-Loosahatchie portion of the Mississippi River located along the Tennessee-Arkansas border. This project is the first of eight conservation reaches identified as priorities within the Lower Mississippi River to be studied. It serves as a model for comprehensive, large-scale restoration across the lower basin, helping to improve the environmental, economic and social impact of this globally important river system.
TNC’s policy and government relations work is critical for our conservation success. Our work builds support among key constituencies including the general public, elected officials, businesses and industries and other potential partners and supporters. Building a baseline of support among these constituencies can unlock both potential public and private funding opportunities, build strong partnerships and networks, lead to positive policies and regulations and create a sense of urgency for our work.
Use Your Outside Voice
From the beautiful Appalachian Mountains in the east to the fertile Mississippi River Basin in the west, nature matters to Tennesseans. Help us eensure a future in which nature and people can thrive.
Recent Stories
Tennessee 2023 Year in Review
Learn about TNC's most recent conservation wins around the state of Tennessee.
Tennessee Lands
TNC is working to transform how we manage natural and working lands, inspire better land-use practices, protect habitats for imperiled species and conserve climate-resilient landscapes.
Cumberland Forest
The Nature Conservancy completes one of the largest land deals in TNC’s history of working in Kentucky and Tennessee.