Governor's Award for Excellence in Natural Heritage Conservation
(l-r) Gentry Barden, Land Trust for Tennessee; Deputy Governor John Morgan; Jean Nelson, Land Trust for Tennessee;
Commissioner Jim Fyke; Bruce Dobie,University of the South; Chris Roberts, Land Trust for Tennessee;
Miranda Christy, Stites and Harbison; Deputy Commissioner Paul Sloan; Julian Bibb, Land Trust for Tennessee and University of the South.
The Governor’s Award for Excellence in Natural Heritage Conservation went to The Land Trust for
Tennessee’s Lost Cove Project. In February 2008, the Land Trust for Tennessee and the University of the
South completed the purchase and permanent protection of nearly 3,000 acres on the South Cumberland Plateau
in Franklin County from the American Timberland Corporation.
This project is producing conservation benefits by protecting Tennessee’s wildlife diversity, forest
resources and exceptional recreational opportunities. Our department’s biologists have identified at least 31
rare species that exist within one mile of Lost Cove. The land adjacent to the 10,000-acre Domain of the
University will be managed by the university for use as an outdoor academic laboratory and for recreation. The
outdoor laboratory will teach more about forestry, watershed protection, biology and geology. Partners in this
exceptional acquisition include the Tennessee Heritage Conservation Trust Fund; the Nature Conservancy
Tennessee Chapter; the Benwood Foundation and the Lyndhurst Foundation. Community fundraising generated
more than $4.5 million for the project.
