Welcome to our Conservation Newsroom. We hope you'll visit often to stay informed about conservation projects and big wins that we are reporting on from around Tennessee. Thanks for reading!
May 9, 2025
Scott’s Gulf Wilderness State Park Officially Opens
On May 9, 2025, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) proudly gathered at Welch’s Point Overlook alongside conservation partners to celebrate the dedication of Scott’s Gulf Wilderness State Park, which is adjacent to The Nature Conservancy’s Bridgestone Nature Reserve at Chestnut Mountain.
We are incredibly proud of this significant conservation milestone and deeply grateful to our partners at TDEC and TWRA for their support. This new state park spans over 9,500 acres, uniting Virgin Falls State Natural Area with Dog Cove and Lost Creek Natural Area. Scott's Gulf Wilderness State Park, located primarily in White County, Tennessee, offers visitors a chance to explore its diverse terrain and scenic beauty. Highlights include Welch’s Point, Lost Creek Falls, Virgin Falls, and access to the Caney Fork River at Mitchell Ford.
Laurel Creech, State Director of The Nature Conservancy, emphasized Scott’s Gulf’s unique biodiversity, saying, “It is the most biodiverse temperate forest in the world,” Creech said. “We are here today to celebrate this important day, to steward and shepherd this conservation.”
While the park currently offers fourteen primitive campsites and basic amenities, there are plans for improvements, including restrooms, a visitor center, future trails, overlooks, and additional campgrounds. Scott's Gulf Wilderness State Park represents a strong commitment to environmental stewardship and preservation in Tennessee, offering an escape into nature for those seeking tranquility and adventure.
To find out more about Scott’s Gulf Wilderness State Park
May 14, 2025
Welcome to Our Team, Brian Scales!
The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee is excited to welcome Brian Scales as its new Director of Philanthropy. Brian brings over 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership and fundraising, with a strong background in major gift campaigns and strategic planning.
A Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Brian has held leadership roles at organizations such as Cannon School, The Lovett School, Murphy-Harpst Children’s Center, and Stand Together. He has also served on the boards of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District III and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Atlanta Chapter.
Brian is a graduate of Elon University and holds an MFA from Emerson College. He and his wife recently served on the Sewanee Parents' Council at The University of the South and are proud parents of five boys. In his free time, Brian enjoys photography, travel, and spending time outdoors—making Tennessee a natural fit.
We’re thrilled to have Brian on board as we continue to grow support for conservation across the state.
April 28, 2025
Protecting Tennessee's Diverse Ecosystems: SWAP Committee Update
In 2024, more than 25 agencies and organizations united to guide future conservation efforts in Tennessee. On April 16th, the State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) Steering Committee convened in Nashville to discuss strengthening partnerships to protect sensitive species and their habitats.
From the Mississippi River to the Blue Ridge Mountains, Tennessee's conservation activities are as diverse as its natural resources. Efforts include creating vegetated buffers to protect water quality, restoring grasslands and forests with prescribed fire and exploring the state's unique cave systems.
A key takeaway from the meeting was the need to expand education about the value of Tennessee’s natural systems and connect all Tennesseans to this richness. The TN SWAP Steering Committee is committed to addressing these needs by developing tools to capture interagency project impacts, share species data and prioritize conservation efforts.
The SWAP update will be available to view in fall 2025. To stay updated on Tennessee’s SWAP progress, check out Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. For more information, contact actionplanstn@tnc.org.
April 11, 2025
Welcoming Tyler Congleton to the Nature Conservancy Board.
The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee is thrilled to introduce Tyler Congleton as its newest board member. Tyler's dedication to conservation began in the early 2000s, focusing on conservation easements to protect land from extensive development. As managing partner of Blackberry Development Company and Blackberry Farm Real Estate, Tyler oversees residential development at Blackberry Farm and Blackberry Mountain. His leadership has helped ensure that thousands of acres are preserved in permanent conservation.
Tyler is actively involved in the community, serving on various boards including the Tennessee Wildlife Federation and the Great Smoky Mountains Conservation Association. He holds degrees from the University of Virginia and UNC-Chapel Hill.
An outdoor enthusiast, Tyler enjoys spending time with his wife, Vee, and their sons, Fulton and Riggs. We are excited to have him join our board and contribute to our mission of preserving Tennessee's natural beauty.
February 17, 2025
A meeting of the minds around the Mississippi River takes place in Memphis.
The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee was honored to host staff, trustees and partners from several states at TNC's Mississippi River Basin Program's annual meeting in Memphis February 10-13. After a warm welcome from TNC's Tennessee state director, Laurel Creech, more than 100 participants gathered over several days to discuss challenges and impactful work taking place across the basin, which encompasses 31 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. During the event, key conversations centered on floodplains, agrulture, government relations and communications, highlighting collaborative efforts to protect and sustain the vital ecosystems of the Mississippi River Basin.
Thanks to your support, we're protecting critical lands and waters throughout Tennessee.
More Tennessee Stories
Tennessee Forests and Woodlands
Conserving forests supports wildlife, benefits water quality and combats the effects of climate change in Tennessee.
Tennessee Caves (and Bats That Use Them)
With more than 10,000 caves in Tennessee, The Nature Conservancy has made preserving cave ecosystems a priority.
Floodplains and Farms
In West Tennessee, working with the agriculture industry is key to restoring and reconnecting a landscape once dominated by vast floodplains and bottomland forests.