[tn-bird] Great Day For Cerulean and Golden-winged Warblers
- From: "Troy Ettel" <Troy.Ettel@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 02 Aug 2002 13:20:10 -0500
For additional information contact:
Jack Lynn, The Conservation Fund, 703-683-2996
Kriste Goad, Press Secretary, Gov. Don Sundquist, 615-741-3763
Jenifer Christman, International Paper, 901-419-4010
Dave Woodward, TWRA, 615-781-6502
FOR RELEASE: August 2, 2002
STATE, CONSERVATION GROUPS AND FORESTRY INTERESTS UNITE TO PROTECT 75,000 ACRES
ON CUMBERLAND PLATEAU
NASHVILLE - In the first conservation project of its kind in the United States,
the state of Tennessee has joined forces with The Conservation Fund, Renewable
Resources Inc. and International Paper to protect 75,000 acres of forestland on
the Cumberland Plateau, the groups announced today.
"This purchase from International Paper showcases the power of public-private
partnerships to conserve and protect Tennessee's landscape," Gov. Don Sundquist
said. "This magnificent property will be enjoyed by Cumberland Trail hikers,
wildlife watchers, sportsmen and other outdoor enthusiasts for years to come.
It is truly a treasure for all Tennesseans to enjoy."
The property, located 40 miles northwest of Knoxville, Tenn., is divided into
two large tracts and includes portions of Anderson, Scott and Campbell
counties. Under a shared-use agreement, the land will remain a working forest
available for outdoor recreation.
The Conservation Fund acquired the property's surface rights from International
Paper with significant financial support from the Doris Duke Charitable
Foundation through its Southern Appalachian Forest Conservation Initiative. The
initiative seeks to conserve ecologically significant lands and improve forest
management in the Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee and Alabama and the Little
Tennessee River Basin in North Carolina.
The timber harvesting rights were purchased by Renewable Resources Inc., a
private timber investment company. The property will ultimately be transferred
to the state of Tennessee.
"This acquisition protects strategically important habitat for high priority
migratory songbirds such as the cerulean and golden-winged warblers and other
unique non-game and game species," Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
Executive Director Gary Myers said. "The property is also home to the state's
only free-ranging, wild population of elk."
"As a result of this project, we now have a bold new model for forestland
conservation in America," Conservation Fund President Larry Selzer said. "I
congratulate International Paper, the state of Tennessee and Renewable
Resources Inc. for their leadership, vision and cooperation."
The Conservation Fund worked with Renewable Resources Inc. to develop a plan to
ensure that working lands will be managed as a sustainable forest and to
maintain the natural hardwood forest cover. Forestry operations will meet or
exceed all requirements of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative â (SFIsm)
-more-
program and all Tennessee Best Management Practices for forestlands to ensure
protection of critical habitat including imperiled aquatic resources.
"Due to its proximity to Royal Blue Wildlife Management Area and the Cumberland
Trail, this land is extremely important to Tennessee citizens," said George
O'Brien, Senior Vice President, Forest Products for International Paper. "We
worked hard to structure a sales agreement that assured that the area will
continue to be managed using sustainable forestry practices, and that public
recreational use will continue in the future."
Rex Boner, Vice President, Southeastern Region of The Conservation Fund further
underscored the project's importance. "Permanent sustainable management of this
property will do much to maintain the region's diverse habitats and will
contribute to the economic future of the Southern Appalachians," said Boner.
"We are fortunate to have large tracts of working forestland remaining in the
eastern United States," said Bob Saul, Renewable Resources Inc.'s partner for
domestic acquisitions. "Under the agreement, this land will continue to provide
sustainable, long-term benefits to timber investors and the local community."
"The Nature Conservancy felt this area was the most important conservation
project in the state," Scott Davis, state director of the Nature Conservancy's
Tennessee chapter said. "Protecting this area for future generations of
Tennesseans is a good example of what can be accomplished when partners come
together with shared conservation goals."
The Tucker Foundation of Chattanooga is also assisting with the acquisition.
International Paper (www.internationalpaper.com) is the world's largest paper
and forest products company. Businesses include paper, packaging and forest
products. As one of the largest private forest landowners in the world, the
company manages its forests under the principles of the Sustainable Forestry
Initiative â (SFIsm) program, a system that ensures the continual planting,
growing and harvesting of trees while protecting wildlife, plants, soil, air
and water quality. Headquartered in the United States, at Stamford, Conn.,
International Paper has operations in nearly 50 countries and exports its
products to more than 130 nations.
Contact: Jenifer Christman, ( 901) 419-4010
The Conservation Fund (www.conservationfund.org) acts to protect the nation's
legacy of land and water resources in partnership with other organizations,
public agencies, foundations, corporations and individuals. Founded in 1985,
The Fund has helped its partners safeguard wildlife habitat, greenways,
community "greenspace" and historic sites totaling more than 3.2 million acres.
The Conservation Fund is the only environmental nonprofit to be top rated by
both the American Institute of Philanthropy and the Charity Navigator. Its
headquarters are in Arlington, Virginia.
Contact: Jack Lynn, (703) 683-2996
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (www.tnwildlife.org) is responsible for
conserving, managing and protecting fish and wildlife species and their
habitats in Tennessee. TWRA fosters the safe and responsible use of the state's
lands and waters through a program of enforcement, education and access for the
use, benefit and enjoyment of the citizens of Tennessee and its visitors. The
agency is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn.
Contact: Dave Woodward, (615) 781-6502
###
Cumberland Forest Acquisition to Add
75,000 Acres to Royal Blue Wildlife Management Area
and Connect to Frozen Head State Park and Natural Area
PROJECT SUMMARY
The Conservation Fund and Renewable Resources, Inc., a private timber buyer,
purchased approximately 75,000 acres in Campbell, Scott and Anderson County
from International Paper. This complex transaction represents one of the
largest forestland conservation acquisitions in Tennessee and will provide many
public benefits.
By linking Frozen Head State Park and Natural Area with Royal Blue WMA, the new
acquisition creates a 140,000-acre expanse of unbroken forestland. It will be
the second largest public land assemblage in Tennessee, exceeded only by the
Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Cherokee National Forest complex.
With the acquisition complete, the Cumberland Forest provides a unique
opportunity to launch a model sustainable forestry program that conserves an
important natural area, maintains the forest's rich biodiversity, enhances
habitats for imperiled species, and protects a working landscape to provide
traditional forest-related as well as other economic benefits to the region and
the state.
Important Facts
· The acquisition, the first of its kind in the United States, is the
culmination of more than 18 months of hard work by a variety of partners. The
project leverages public and private dollars. The Conservation Fund, Renewable
Resources, Inc. and International Paper were assisted by Tennessee Gov. Don
Sundquist, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and many other organizations.
· The Conservation Fund purchased the surface rights of 75,000 acres in two
tracts. The timber interests purchased the timber estate on the 75,000 acres.
The property is subject to a shared-use agreement.
· The Conservation Fund will transfer its interest in the 75,000 acres to the
state of Tennessee as an addition to the existing Royal Blue Wildlife
Management Area (WMA), managed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
(TWRA).
· Renewable Resources Inc., a private timber investment firm based in
Massachusetts, purchased the timber estate and will continue to manage the
forestland under a restrictive shared use agreement that meets or exceeds the
Sustainable Forestry Initiative â (SFIsm) guidelines and Best Management
Practices to provide for the conservation of environmental values on the
property while maintaining a sound, sustainable and economically viable
timber-based economy in the region.
· The property includes headwaters of the Cumberland River system, including
Stinking and Hickory Creeks and New River.
· Plans call for creating a new 35-mile segment of the Cumberland Trail State
Park to link existing trail sections on Frozen Head and Royal Blue. The 280+
mile trail crosses the entire state through the Cumberlands.
· The 75,000 acres will remain accessible for a variety of public recreational
activities, including hiking, bird watching, hunting and fishing as managed by
TWRA. Birders from across America have traveled to the area to catch glimpses
of the cerulean and golden-winged warblers and a variety of other rare avian
species. Hunters will continue to chase whitetail deer, wild turkey, ruffed
grouse and other game species on the property, as they have since International
Paper enrolled the property in TWRA's Public Hunting Area program.
· Five major conservation planning initiatives have identified the Cumberland
Mountain region as critical to protecting nationally and internationally
significant biodiversity. Professional biologists and ecologists note that 80
or more extremely rare species of flora and fauna, some of which are identified
as endangered or threatened by state and federal agencies, may inhabit the
Frozen Head/Cumberland Forest/Royal Blue core.
· The Cumberland Forest has already played a significant role in TWRA's elk
reintroduction program and is widely used by the free ranging population, now
estimated at 180+ animals after another successful calving season. Other
reintroduction programs on the Plateau could also be expanded to the area,
including such animals as black bear (already sighted on Royal Blue), fisher
and several at-risk fish and mussel species.
Partners
· Gov. Sundquist took a specific interest in seeing that the acquisition could
be completed.
· On behalf of the state of Tennessee, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
was the lead agency.
· The Conservation Fund played a key role in the negotiations and in crafting
the final agreements. The organization used funds from its revolving fund to
provide interim financing.
· Due to the proximity to Frozen Head, the Tennessee Department of Environment
and Conservation also offered its support, sharing data and providing important
information.
· The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation of New York is the largest private
philanthropic partner through their Southern Appalachian Forest Conservation
Initiative. (http://fdncenter.org/grantmaker/dorisduke/press_env7.html)
· The Tennessee Chapter of The Nature Conservancy is also contributing to the
acquisition and provided additional project support.
· The Cumberland Trail Conference is contributing financially to the
acquisition costs.
· The Tucker Foundation is assisting in the acquisition.
· Public dollars for the acquisition include grants from the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service.
· International Paper demonstrated a willingness to work with all parties to
craft a sales agreement that assured sustainable forest management and public
use in the future.
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